Jewish News October 28, 2024 Issue

KNOWLEDGE IS KEY

Jewish News continues to gather and present some basic facts to equip readers with the confidence needed to engage in conversation about Israel and antisemitism.

Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP)

Founded 1996, Jewish Voice for Peace refers to itself as the “Jewish wing” of the Palestinian solidarity movement and as “Jews against Zionism,” notwithstanding the fact that the majority of its activists are not Jewish.

JVP’s declared agenda is to create “a wedge” within the American Jewish community, while working toward the goal of eliminating U.S. economic, military, and political aid to Israel.

Reporting a budget of $3 million in 2021, Jewish Voice for Peace is not transparent about its funding sources. (NGO Moniter)

HURRICANE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND

Hurricane Helene struck the east coast as a powerful Category 4 storm, bringing wind speeds exceeding 140 mph, a once-in-a generation storm surge, and more than 15 inches of rainfall. This caused widespread flooding and damage across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Entire communities were plunged into darkness, with homes and businesses severely impacted and cut off from main roadways. Thousands of residents have been displaced, and Jewish communities are facing urgent needs for recovery, aid, and rebuilding.

In addition to Hurricane Helene, Jewish Federations of North America is responding to the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton, which has also left a trail of destruction in its path. Jewish Federations are working tirelessly to assist communities affected by both storms through its Hurricane Relief Fund, ensuring that critical support reaches those in need.

Jewish Federations are uniquely positioned to offer vital support in times of crisis like this.

Help by contributing to the JFNA Hurricane Emergency Relief Fund, ensuring that Jewish communities and those affected receive the assistance they need. Go to JewishVA.org to donate. Report an antisemitic incident at www.Federation.JewishVA.org/IncidentReporting In an emergency, always call 9-1-1 first.

If online reporting is not practical, contact local law enforcement and/or the relevant suspicious activity reporting authority. Also contact Mike Goldsmith, Tidewater’s SCN Regional Security Advisor, at MGoldsmith@ujft.org or by calling 844-SCN-DESK.

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There’s

BRIEFS

Paul McCartney attends Yom Kippur services in Santiago, Chile

You could say he said sorry with a little help from his friends.

Paul McCartney, the former Beatle, attended Yom Kippur services with his Jewish wife in Santiago, Chile. He had performed a solo concert there on the previous night, the beginning of the Jewish holiday of atonement.

Ariela Agosin, president of Chile Jewish Community, told JTA that McCartney had arranged his attendance at the Círculo Israelita Synagogue through a friend but that very few in the congregation had been aware in advance that he would be present.

“It was very moving to have the presence of Sir Paul and his wife Nancy Shevell among us,” Agosin said. “Of course, as a community we feel honored by their company and respect the moment of recognition they wanted to give by attending Yizkor, the memorial service of the deceased.”

Shevell’s father, Myron, died in 2022; her mother Arlene, a cousin of Barbara Walters, died in 1991.

Photos taken in Santiago show McCartney and Shevell entering and leaving the modernist synagogue building, designed by Chilean Jewish architect Jaime Bendersky Smuclir, as well as wearing a white kippah while inside. McCartney left shortly after the service for Brazil, where he played several concerts.

Claudio Epelman, executive director of the Latin American Jewish Congress, the regional branch of the World Jewish Congress, told JTA that McCartney’s participation had provided valuable visibility for Jewish life in Chile, home to an estimated 18,000 Jews.

“Paul’s presence in a Jewish religious ceremony contributes to the consolidation of the interreligious diversity that Chile has,” Epelman said. “That is a very valuable asset.”

It is not the first time that McCartney has surprised Jewish worshippers by showing up at services with Shevell, a New York Jew whom he married in 2011. The day before their civil wedding, they attended Yom Kippur services at St John’s Wood’s Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London, the Jewish Chronicle reported at the time. He has also reportedly attended Yom Kippur prayers at New York City’s Temple Emanu-El in the past.

McCartney’s first wife, Linda Eastman, was also Jewish; the couple were married from 1969 until Eastman’s death in 1998. In 2008, shortly after starting to date Shevell, a former member of New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority board, McCartney performed in Israel, saying while there that he supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His current tour, called “Get Back,” has no planned stops in Israel, which banned The Beatles from performing in 1965 out of concern about the moral influence of the pioneering band.

Among the thousands of fans at McCartney’s Chilean

concert was Chilean President Gabriel Boric, a harsh critic of Israel and of Chilean Jews who support it. (JTA)

Jewish Park Slope Food Coop members allege antisemitic, anti-Israel harassment

Jewish members of Brooklyn’s Park Slope Food Coop filed a state human rights complaint alleging antisemitic and anti-Israel harassment there, mounting a bid for government intervention in the store’s ongoing fight over the Gaza war.

The complaint was filed by the anti-BDS coalition Coop4Unity and lists multiple allegations of antisemitic hate speech and harassment at the co-op, which is member-owned and operated. The members filed the complaint on Oct. 7, the first anniversary of Hamas’ attack, and say the instances it includes remain unaddressed.

“The complaint itself is essentially that there’s been a number of incidents that we believe have led to a toxic workplace environment,” said Ramon Maislen, who filed the complaint.

“It is disheartening that despite numerous calls for action, Coop leadership has failed to protect its Jewish and Israeli members from ongoing harassment,” Maislen said. “No one should feel unsafe or marginalized in a place that claims to serve all people equally.”

The filing is the latest stage in a debate over the Israel-Hamas war that has split the co-op, which many members see as a community, and which serves as a symbol of Brownstone Brooklyn’s progressivism. An effort to boycott Israeli goods at the co-op has dominated its member meetings and the pages of its newsletter and was at the center of a recent board election.

Jewish members who opposed the boycott say they now feel unwelcome and unsafe at the co-op, owing to a hostile environment the complaint seeks to describe.

Among the incidents it alleges, according to a statement from Coop4Unity, was one on May 16 in which an anonymous Jewish woman of Middle Eastern descent was handing out flyers outside the co-op when a “white, male-presenting Coop member verbally assaulted her, referring to her as a ‘Nazi’.” The statement said he later used the term “Sieg heil,” the Nazi salute, “while standing menacingly behind her.”

The statement also alleges that Jewish members were told at various times that they “have no empathy,” “smell of Palestinian blood,” “support genocide” and bear responsibility for Israel’s military actions. The statement says members of Park Slope Food Coop Members for Palestine, which supports a boycott of Israeli goods, are responsible for much of the harassment.

New York State human rights law prohibits discrimination in a range of areas, including employment and public accommodations, and pledges to investigate complaints within 180 days. If a complaint is found to have probable cause, the case goes before an administrative law judge. (JTA)

Christopher Columbus was genetically Jewish, Spanish researchers say

Christopher Columbus was likely Jewish, Spanish researchers have announced in a splashy new documentary aired on Spain’s national broadcaster earlier this month.

According to the documentary, the researchers spent 22 years researching Columbus’ national origins before concluding that bones buried in a Seville cathedral are in fact the famed explorer’s — and that his DNA suggests that he likely came from a Jewish family.

“We have DNA from Christopher Columbus, very partial, but sufficient. We have DNA from Hernando Colón, his son,” the lead researcher, José Antonio Lorente at the University of Granada, said in the documentary. “And both in the Y chromosome (male) and in the mitochondrial DNA (transmitted by the mother) of Hernando there are traits compatible with Jewish origin.”

Whether the findings are accurate may never be known. The forensic scientists have not yet released their raw data, and their report was not peer-reviewed before the documentary aired. A Spanish report says the research will appear in an international scientific journal in the future.

Researchers who study Columbus say the purported findings are of only limited significance, even if true: DNA evidence would show only Jewish heritage, not identity. And Columbus’ own writings express both Christian beliefs and praise for the decree expelling Jews from Spain.

“I encourage people to read his own writings to appreciate his complex identity — he was an autodidact, who took advantage of the explosion of knowledge after the birth of printing to create an eclectic theology that had many Judaic elements — but in a deeply Christian, mystical vein,” Ronnie Perelis, a Yeshiva University professor who has written about Sephardic Jews of the era, told the Jewish News Syndicate after the documentary aired. “Genetics doesn’t make someone Jewish.”

Still, the claims add a sheen of scientific credibility to longtime speculation about Columbus’ national origins, which has included repeated arguments that he may have been Jewish.

Ninety years ago, a prominent Spanish historian charged that Columbus was not Italian, as had long been believed, but Spanish, and the son of Marranos, Jews who converted to Christianity to escape the Spanish Inquisition.

More recently, Estelle Irizarry, a Georgetown University professor, analyzed Columbus’ known writings and concluded that marks on some pages and other quirks suggested that his native tongue could have been Ladino, a Jewish language.

Others have noted the proximity of Columbus’ departure — Aug. 3, 1492 — to the date on which the Alhambra Decree, issued by his sponsors King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in March 1492, went into effect. The decree gave Jews a choice among expulsion, conversion, or death.

Undisputed is the fact that several members of Columbus’ crew were Jewish or prominent Marranos. (JTA)

Be prepared to vote on Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 5

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Jewish Community Relations Council has compiled a toolkit to educate, engage, and inform Tidewater voters about ‘all things’ election. It offers information on how to register to vote, find the correct polling place, determine what district to vote in, and which candidates will be on the district’s ballot.

Being an informed voter is crucial for a healthy democracy, as it empowers individuals to make educated decisions that reflect their values and priorities. Knowledge of candidates, policies, and issues ensures that citizens can actively participate in shaping their communities and positively influence the direction of their government – whether for School Board, City Council, Congress, Senate, or President.

To vote, U.S. citizens must present a valid photo ID, when voting early or on Election Day. If the polls close while still in line on Election Day, voters still have the right to vote and should remain in line.

ELECTION DATES

Saturday, Nov. 2 – EARLY VOTING ENDS at 5 pm

Tuesday, Nov. 5 – ELECTION DAY POLLS are open 6 am - 7 pm

Tuesday, Nov. 5 - VOTE BY MAIL ends at 7 pm

Those who experience trouble on Election Day should call the non-partisan Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-687-8683 for assistance.

Visit www.JewishVA.org/Election24 and be ready to make informed decisions on November 5, 2024.

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Making final plans and writing a will can be difficult Thinking now about a future charitable gift can help you to leave a lasting legacy

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To honor a special person in your life with a gift that gives forever, visit us at Leaveabequest.org.

OPINION

No, we shouldn’t retire the word ‘Zionism.’ We should take it back.

Zack Bodner (JTA) — In the face of campus attacks on “Zionists” and a global backlash against the very ideology of “Zionism,” there have been calls to retire the word Zionism. The latest came from Case Western Reserve university professors Alanna Cooper and Sharona Hoffman, who argue that because Israel’s enemies use the word to avoid saying “Israel,” and distort the historical meaning of the word, the terms “Zionism” and “Zionist” “should be retired from our vocabulary.”

This would be a mistake of epic proportions. It won’t make our enemies love us. In fact, it will have the opposite effect and just embolden them to keep chipping away at our narrative, our heritage and our people. So, we must double down on that word, reclaim it, and remind everyone what it really means.

And here’s what it means (the Anti-Defamation League got it right): “Zionism is the movement for the self-determination and statehood for the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland, the land of Israel.” That’s it. Nothing more and nothing less.

Calling for retiring the word Zionism, even in the interest of defending Israel, is a short-sighted response that will only backfire. The word is not only still relevant today, but it represents something vitally needed for world Jewry at this hour: Jewish pride. So instead of giving in, we must push back and reclaim the terminology. We must be proud and show them that we won’t bow to their pressure on this or any other antisemitic attack, and here’s why:

First, words matter. Our enemies have long used language to stoke Jew hatred. From passion plays that proclaimed Jews killed Jesus to blood libels that claimed Jews drink the blood of Christian children to Hamas lies that Israelis harvest Palestinian organs to anti-Israel protesters screaming that Israel commits genocide and apartheid — our enemies have always used words to inflame hatred against us, and it has often led to real violence. They’re doing the same thing today by turning the word Zionism into a bad word. But we cannot let them.

Second, we get to define our own lexicon, not our adversaries. Cooper and Hoffman write that Jewish Voice for Peace, the United Nations, and others have chosen to give Zionism “pernicious meanings.” So what? We are already starting to lose the nomenclature fight when it comes to defining antisemitism because we are letting our enemies tell us what Jew hatred is and what it is not. Why do we think caving to our adversaries is ever the right strategy? Winston Churchill famously said, “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile hoping it will eat him last.”

Third, it’s a slippery slope. What’s next? Jew haters will go back to the UN to attempt once again to define “Zionism as racism” — an argument the American Jewish community and government officials spent 16 years fighting to repeal — and

then where will they then go from there? Will they try to turn the word “Israel” or “Jewish” into bad words too? In 1975, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., called the effort to sully the word Zionism “a great evil has been loosed upon the world.” A half-century later, surely the Jewish people can say the same thing.

Fourth, the attack on the word Zionism is something more nefarious in disguise: It is our enemies’ attempt to erase the Jewish connection to Zion altogether. Hoffman and Cooper write that “Zionism should continue to be used to refer to the movement that predated the establishment of Israel in 1948.” But if we allow our enemies to turn Zionism into a dirty word, then that will pave the way for them to turn the entire Zionist enterprise into a dirty movement, which will pave the way for them to discredit not just the word Zionism, but the whole Zionist project, meaning the State of Israel itself. If we retire “Zionism,” with all its deep historical resonance, it will only embolden them to keep lying about the lack of Jewish connection to the land of our people.

Ultimately, we must stand up to our adversaries. We cannot bow to their pressure. We must show them that we are proud of our heritage, our people, and our language — including the word Zionism. For only pride will defeat antisemitism. By giving in to this self-defeating, antisemitic attempt to steal our language from us, we are doing the opposite of having pride – we are going back to being the weak Diaspora Jews that the founders of Zionism were pushing back against when they called for the creation of the modern Jewish State.

Today, a strong, defiant, self-sufficient Judaism is needed more than ever — and that type of Judaism is best represented by Zionism. As I’ve written before, “Zionism is the belief that Jews hold the keys to our own destiny and determine our own future. We are no longer victims of history; we write our own history. Zionism is not just self-determination for Jews in our homeland but self-actualization for Jews all over the world. That’s the Zionism of today, modern Zionism, Zionism 3.0.”

In the end, not only must the word Zionism not be retired, but the word and the ideal it embodies must be resurrected, rejuvenated, and rebooted. A strong, courageous, self-determining Zionism both in Israel and in the Diaspora is a Zionism worth fighting for. That’s what Israeli soldiers are fighting for. That’s what proud Jewish kids on campus are fighting for. That’s what Jews around the world are fighting for.

It’s time to double down and take back the word Zionism.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media, or of Jewish News.

EMBRACE COUNSELING PROGRAM RECEIVES GRANT TO EXPAND COUNSELING SERVICES

Kelly Burroughs

It has been just over a year since Jewish Family Service’s Counseling program moved off the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community to its old digs on the second floor of 260 Grayson Road and rebranded itself as Embrace Counseling.

As part of the agency’s strategic plan, JFS continues to focus on how to meet the growing needs for mental health services. In the Community Needs Assessment that was

completed by the Melior Group on behalf of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Tidewater Jewish Foundation, it was noted that mental health services are “clearly the number one” health-related concern in the Jewish community. This survey was completed in 2019 prior to the pandemic. Issues of social isolation, depression, anxiety, suicidality, and other concerns grew during the pandemic, and have continued on that path.

To help address these growing concerns, the William A. and Jane M. Charters Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation awarded JFS’ Embrace Counseling Program a $60,000 grant to be used over three years to help expand services. These funds will allow the agency to focus on staff recruitment, including building relationships with

interns with local colleges.

In addition to in-office and telehealth counseling services, Jewish Family Service:

• Provides a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to meet weekly with patients at Maimonides (formerly Beth Sholom Home).

• Provides a social worker to facilitate monthly meetings at Atlantic Shores Adult Community.

• Provides hundreds of hours of school counseling services to the children at Strelitz International Academy.

• Partners with Edmarc to offer support groups to children and teens through the Peace by Piece program, now celebrating its 25th year in Hampton Roads.

• Participates in the behavioral health coalition to address concerns and share resources about mental health and suicide.

• Certifies Clinical Social Workers in Trauma Informed Care.

Kelly Burroughs, Jewish Family Service CEO, may be reached at kburroughs@jfshamptonroads.org.

Full-time employees of Embrace Counseling: Michelle Fenley, Maya Ball, Heidi Fields, Debbie Mayer, and Michelle Walter.

ELECTION 2024

In Philadelphia’s suburbs, an army of canvassers targets Jewish voters

Ron Kampeas (JTA) — BALA CYNWYD, Pennsylvania — The second time this month Benny Stanislawski made the three-hour trip from the Jewish precincts of suburban Washington to the Jewish precincts of suburban Philadelphia, he ditched his car and borrowed his mother’s minivan.

He needed the space provided by the 2019 Honda Odyssey, plastered with stickers from the alma maters of the five Stansilawski progeny, because this time, he was bringing along another five 20-something Jewish staffers for Democrats in Congress.

On Sunday, Oct. 20, he and his fellow travelers were among about 100 Jewish canvassers for Vice President Kamala Harris from as far afield as Chicago, New York, and Washington D.C. who spread out across suburbs like this one, where “I stand with Israel” signs populate expansive lawns.

“The path to the presidency runs through Pennsylvania,” Eva Wyner, the Harris campaign’s director of Jewish outreach, told the canvassers. “It runs through right here in Montgomery County. In 2020 Joe Biden won Pennsylvania by less than five votes per precinct. Five votes per precinct!” The state’s Jewish population is estimated at 400,000.

Harris’ campaign sees Jewish voters in seven swing states as critical targets, and on the same day a couple of Democratic stars, New York Rep. Ritchie Torres and Doug Emhoff, the Jewish second gentleman, arrived in the Detroit area to make similar cases to Michigan’s Jews. The Harris campaign has scheduled another Pennsylvania Jewish outing in Pittsburgh on Nov. 3, two days before the election.

“Pennsylvania is home to 45% of Jewish voters in battleground states,” Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, told the canvassers. “We are here for a reason, and we are here to ensure not only that Jewish voters turn out, but that they turn out for Kamala Harris.”

The Democratic canvassers weren’t alone. The same day they ventured up this suburb’s famously long driveways, more than 50 Jewish Republican Jewish Coalition volunteers canvassed for Donald Trump, as they have done for months. (The RJC did not reply in time to a request for information about the canvassing.) Their message is that the Biden-Harris administration’s support for Israel in its war against Hamas has faltered while Trump’s has remained steadfast.

Pennsylvania’s Jews and the perceived anxieties among them have drawn widespread attention as it becomes increasingly clear that the election could easily turn on a few dozen districts, including heavily Jewish suburbs of Philadelphia.

On that Sunday, CNN’s Dana Bash was holding court in a popular local deli, Hymie’s, where the RJC chose to film its closing ad.

Montgomery County is home to several prominent Jews in politics — on both sides of the aisle. Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, was raised in the area and represented it before being elected to statewide office (and being considered as Harris’ running mate before she picked Tim Walz). Mort Klein, the head of the Zionist Organization of America, lives in Bala Cynwyd; he is an effusive backer of Trump. Two major Jewish donors to Republicans, Jeffrey Yass and Arthur Dantchik, both live minutes away and have had their homes protested over their support for right-wing groups in Israel.

The wife was coming over to Harris, but the husband was a harder nut to crack, Stanslawski said.

“Then I told him that Trump said Hezbollah was ‘very smart,’” Stanislawski recalled, and that clinched it. “By the time I left, they had a Kamala sign above their door.”

Trump praised Hezbollah’s smarts days after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, although he framed it as a critique of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not being prepared for the onslaught. Hezbollah joined the conflict the day after Hamas launched the war. Israel is currently battling the terror group in Lebanon.

The suburbs of course are not entirely Jewish, but the campaigns were banking on ethnic affinity. The Democratic canvassers, who began the day munching on bagels and chocolate-chip cupcakes in a sukkah outside a local college building that doubles as a synagogue, were steeped in the Jewish Democratic arguments for Harris and against Trump.

They chatted with each other, trying out pitches peppered with smatterings of Hebrew and references to the Jewish high holiday season.

Stanislawski, a communications director for a prominent Democrat, had a pep talk ready for his crew. (He asked that his boss not be identified, and the other congressional staffers asked not to be identified, because their canvassing was separate from their work in Congress.)

The previous week, Stanislawski said, he encountered an Israeli-American couple who had just moved back to the United States. They were reluctant to vote for Trump but their anxieties about Harris, for them an unknown quantity, gnawed at them.

The exchange was emblematic of the mission for Jewish canvassers who are deeply involved in the political process, relaying inside knowledge favoring their candidates to sway voters, Jewish or not, who have not paid attention to every incremental political development.

“This election will be won or lost in the field, and we need your help to contact every voter in Pennsylvania,” Wyner said in her own pep talk just before the canvassers set out. “The most powerful way to mobilize voters is to hear from supporters in their communities, people like you.”

Canvassers were armed with Jewish stories and arguments for when they did encounter still-undecided Jewish voters.

Suzan Lopatin, a retired Jewish educator from neighboring Bucks County, said she was worried that Harris’ condensed campaign, launched in July after President Joe Biden removed himself from contention, meant that her pro-Israel messaging was not getting through to voters.

“Harris was largely unknown and unable to broadcast her opinions as far and wide as Trump has,” she said.

Lopatin, 64, said she would deploy her wealth of knowledge about the Holocaust — she taught it, and has hundreds of books at home about the period — to make her case. She was armed with quotes from Trump threatening violence against protesters, his equivocations about the deadly neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, and his failure to curb the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot

spurred by his false claims that he won the election.

Lopatin said she planned to show off her tattoo — ”Never Again, ” on her arm — while knocking on doors. “I think ‘Never Again’ is salient,” she said. “He would destroy people.”

Democrats see anxiety about Trump as a key driver to push waverers off the fence. “Turn your anxiety into action,” said an email sent to activists by Jewish Women for Kamala. It may be a resonant pitch. “I’m going to vote for Kamala but more than that, I’m going to vote against Donald,” Richard Weschler told Stanislawski and his friends when he met them walking through this suburb. Aware that a reporter was present, he hesitated at first to give his name: “I don’t want bomb threats.”

Melanie Nathan, a cofounder of the private Facebook page Jewish Women for Kamala Harris (distinct from Jewish Women for Kamala), said she and her fellow administrators often field questions from women who are adamant they will not vote for Trump but were anxious about Harris. She and her co-founder Carol Goldman say the page has 31,000 members and is in the process of vetting another 10,000. Goldman said that some direct messages have led to long phone calls.

Nathan, who directs an NGO that seeks to settle

LGBTQ asylum seekers from Africa, said she pitches a more holistic view: Whatever one candidate or the other said yesterday, Harris over time has been a steady advocate for Jews while Trump is erratic. She noted that he snubbed Netanyahu for years because the Israeli prime minister had congratulated Biden after the 2020 election.

“I don’t doubt there will come a time when he will again say ‘F— Bibi,” said Nathan, 68.

The Jewish campaigns tend to focus heavily on the negatives of the rival candidate.

The RJC’s closing ad features a staged conversation among three women about Harris’ alleged associations with radicals, which includes an anguished “Oy vey!”

“Trump I never cared for, but at least he’ll keep us safe!” says one.

Likewise, the JDCA’s closing ad is heavy on sinister shots of Trump. “Donald Trump is openly scapegoating Jews,” it says, referring to Trump’s warning last month that Jews will be blamed if he is defeated.

RJC has spent $15 million on its campaigning, while the JDCA has paid $2 million.

That weekend, Stanislawski and his friends did not score many invitations inside. A lot of folks had already

cast ballots for Harris in early voting. Referring to Trump’s 2016 election, one man called out of his window, “Not going to let that happen again!”

The canvassers had to contend with a game between the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants (the Eagles wiped the floor with the Giants, 28-3). “We’re all good, thank you,” said one man at a door with a mezuzah, minutes before kickoff; a tiny girl in an Eagles sweatshirt peered out from behind his leg.

Some of the residents seemed more interested in the canvassers than their message. A congressional staffer said several people were eager to explain to her that their voting-age sons were away at medical school.

There were occasional Trump signs on lawns — not many, but more than in 2020, at least according to locals. “Pro-Israel, pro-Trump,” one sign said.

As the canvassers set out, Rep. Brad Schneider, an Illinois Jewish Democrat, used a seasonal Jewish metaphor to urge them on.

“We shake that lulav, north, south, east and west, because we need to be everywhere, getting out the message, because literally, the future of the world depends on it,” he said.

Poppies (Kalaniot): Proud and strong

Emily Patyuk

Since I was a little girl, I’ve always liked Poppies.

I remember when they taught us about law-protected flowers, you know, those that you can’t pick – even if it’s your deepest desire. Out of the list, poppies were my favorite.

I still can’t figure out what drew me to this flower so badly – their strong red color, their noble appearance, the fact that they are not hiding under a rock. They stand out, upright, and proud.

I remember wondering, how weird it is. That such a fragile and delicate flower, one that could be crushed so easily, stays in place, in such a remarkable way.

The Poppies always represented the south of Israel, as it was the place where they bloomed the most. So much so, that for over a decade, each year, there has been a “red south” festival in which people across the country, and even the world, gather to see how the south of Israel fills up with those amazing flowers, which are so important to protect.

Those flowers, which are full of pride, are also forced to represent something else. Those flowers must carry on themselves such a heavy weight, more than their fragile stem can bear.

The Poppies tell in complete silence, the unspeakable story only they got to witness.

The Poppies caught in their petals the screams of our brothers and sisters, our kids and our parents, who got brutally, and without a drop of mercy, massacred.

They captured the crying of those who got taken away and now are held in inhuman conditions, the sorrows of mothers that their babies will never come back, and the desperate longing of kids who miss their dads who just can’t understand why they won’t return.

Now, as we stand here, to mark one year. 365 days, 525,600 minutes that I haven’t been able to breathe properly, and I can’t even find the words to describe the huge pain I have felt every day since.

Though I struggle to find the words, I need to remember that the Poppies will bloom again, and so must we.

As the blood of our people cries out to us from the ground, we must, just like the poppies, bloom proudly and strongly again.

This past year has proven to us that people will try to crush us time and time again, and because of that, we must stand together, upright, and thrive against all odds. Because never again, is now.

Ahead of election, Jewish groups decry

‘xenophobia’ and ‘hate’ toward immigrants

Ron Kampeas (JTA) — WASHINGTON — An array of Jewish groups, including the rabbinic associations of American Judaism’s two largest denominations, joined 500 Jewish clergy in calling out “an election season defined by xenophobia, fear, and lies.”

The statement released Wednesday, Oct. 23 by HIAS, the lead Jewish immi gration advocacy group, appeared to be a thinly-veiled reference to Donald Trump’s rhetoric on immigration. It was unusual in delivering a stark political message pri marily aimed at one of the two nominees with early voting already underway.

“In an election season defined by xenophobia, fear, and lies, we pledge to stand firmly in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers and to advocate for their rights and safety,” said the statement, signed by the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly, Reform Central Conference of American Rabbis, Union for Reform Judaism, National Council of Jewish Women, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the Reconstructing Judaism movement and T’ruah, a liberal rabbinical human rights group, as well as more than 500 clergy.

“We call on all candidates to reject

JCRC interviews Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District’s candidates: Representative Jen Kiggans (R) and Missy Cotter Smasal (D)

The Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater posed a series of questions to the candidates running for Virginia’s Second Congressional District: Congresswoman Jen Kiggans and Missy Cotter Smasal. Their responses follow. JCRC strives to motivate, educate, and advocate on issues important to the Jewish community locally, nationally, and globally. For more information about the upcoming elections on November 5, to determine which district is yours, which candidates will be on your ballot, and to learn more about the candidates, visit www.JewishVA.org/Election24.

Jen Kiggans

Jewish Community Relations Council: Data released in September by the Federal Bureau of Investigation reveals that in 2023, reported single-bias anti-Jewish hate crime incidents rose to 1,832 incidents, a sharp increase of 63 percent from 2022, and the highest number ever recorded by the FBI since it began collecting data in 1991. How do you plan to address this rising hate in Congress?

Jen Kiggans: The explosion of antisemitism we’ve seen both at home and abroad in the wake of Hamas’ unprovoked October 7 attacks must be universally condemned. There is absolutely no place for this disgusting hate and bigotry in our great nation, and it’s more important than ever to use our voices as elected officials to call out these incidents of antisemitism, as well as those responsible for them.

On the federal level, I’ve worked hard to be a voice and an advocate for our Jewish community, as well as for our ally, Israel. In the wake of October 7, I called on my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to reject harmful funding cuts to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which is critical to the safety and security of synagogues in Virginia and around the country. I also stood with more than 300 of my colleagues on the House floor to vote to condemn and denounce the drastic rise of antisemitism in the United States and around the world. Additionally, I introduced a bipartisan resolution to condemn Hamas’ use of sexual violence, which passed the House of Representatives in February. Though we’ve seen troubling rhetoric and behavior on college campuses, television networks, and even in the halls of Congress, our commonsense leaders will ALWAYS stand with Israel and the Jewish people in our country and around our world.

JCRC: At a recent Summit to address rising antisemitism on university campuses, AJC CEO Ted Deutch shared, “Only by ensuring that the voices of the Jewish community are not silenced can we ensure the free exchange of ideas, the importance of which extends beyond campus and forms the bedrock of our liberal

democracy.” How will you address the hate on university campuses across this country?

JK: We must ensure that Americans are not subjected to threats and intimidation such as the disgusting displays we saw on college campuses across the country this past year. It is the duty of university administrators, education and local leaders, and all of us to make it known that this hatred has no place in our communities and in our country. It’s why I voted to condemn antisemitism on college campuses and have repeatedly called for accountability for those who have failed to adequately address it.

The Congressional hearings that led to the resignation of top university officials were a good start, but we must continue to keep up the pressure on our institutions of higher learning to foster environments which support a wide variety of opinions and beliefs devoid of bigotry and hatred.

JCRC: What do you see as the impact of a nuclear Iran? What should the U.S. Congress do to counter Iran’s power in the Middle East?

JK: Iran must NEVER be allowed to gain access to a nuclear weapon. The Ayatollah has been very clear about his plans to eliminate Israel from existence and wage nuclear war on the United States and the west. The development of nuclear weapons by the Iranian Government would be nothing short of a catastrophe for the Middle East and our world as a whole, which is why I voted to freeze the nearly $11B that the Biden-Harris Administration inexplicably sent to the Iranian Regime last year. I also proudly cosponsored the Iranian Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2023, which would provide additional funding for the seizure of Iranian assets.

Whether it be the launching of ballistic missiles at Israel or continuous acts of terrorism by Hamas, Hezbollah, and their other proxies in the region, there is no doubt that Iran feels emboldened and will only continue to escalate their aggression. These acts of terrorism are not just affecting Israel; Iran’s proxies have injured multiple U.S. servicemembers in the region. Malicious and oppressive regimes like Iran only understand one language: strength. Any strategy of appeasement is severely misguided; we must return to policies of harsh sanctions to ensure that the Ayatollah’s destructive plans never come to fruition.

JCRC: As a Member of Congress, what would you say to those who deny Israel’s legitimacy and its right to defend itself and its people?

JK: Israel is our closest ally and the only democracy in the Middle East. Anyone who seeks to delegitimize or deny their right to exist and defend themselves is severely misguided and does not stand with the people of Israel and the global Jewish community.

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to visit Israel, where we toured several of the sites of the October 7th Massacre, including the grounds of the Nova Music Festival.

We also met with the families of some of the hostages and listened to their powerful testimonies, held a briefing with top IDF officials, and visited a few of Israel’s beautiful historical sites. The trip was incredibly moving. Visiting the sites where Hamas began their unprovoked war just months after it happened was powerful beyond words. While much of our trip was very solemn, it also reaffirmed my commitment to Israel and her people.

Though Iran may not currently have a nuclear weapon, they continue to actively pursue ways to destroy Israel and the west, including through the use of nuclear weapons.

Today – and every day – I am proud to stand strong and be a steadfast advocate for Israel and our shared democratic values.

ELECTION 2024

Missy Cotter Smasal

Jewish Community Relations Council: Data released in September by the Federal Bureau of Investigation reveals that in 2023, reported single-bias anti-Jewish hate crime incidents rose to 1,832 incidents, a sharp increase of 63 percent from 2022 and the highest number ever recorded by the FBI since it began collecting data in 1991. How do you plan to address this rising hate in Congress?

Missy Cotter Smasal: I am very concerned about the rise of antisemitism and the anti-Israel sentiment that has increased in the US. It’s incumbent upon leaders, both in Congress and in the community, to reject discrimination, to recognize the increased threat posed to the Jewish community and find ways to counter that threat while providing more safety and security. Leaders must be resolute about combating antisemitism. I will always stand with the Jewish community against hatred and bigotry and support strong hate crimes laws to hold those who break the law accountable.

JCRC: At a recent Summit to address rising antisemitism on university campuses, AJC CEO Ted Deutch shared, “Only by ensuring that the voices of the Jewish community are not silenced can we ensure the free exchange of ideas, the importance of which extends beyond campus and forms the bedrock of our liberal democracy.” How will you address the hate on university campuses across this country?

MCS: Colleges and universities should be free and open places to exchange ideas without hatred or bigotry – and colleges must hold students accountable for inciting violence or impeding the education of others. Threats against students, including the Jewish community, are completely

unacceptable and cannot be tolerated, and universities must enforce their rules firmly and fairly to keep students and faculty safe.

JCRC: What do you see as the impact of a nuclear Iran? What should the U.S. Congress do to counter Iran’s power in the Middle East?

MCS: Iran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, which would represent a serious, existential security threat to Israel, the broader Middle East, and the world as a whole. I unequivocally support efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and in Congress, I will support diplomatic efforts to reign in Iran. I support building global coalitions to counter Iran’s aggressive behavior. But, Iran’s aggressive behavior is more than just their nuclear ambitions. Diplomatic efforts must recognize this moving forward. In addition, Iran continues to fund Hamas and other terrorist groups in the Middle East. Their actions continue to impede the path to peace in the region. Ultimately, all options must remain on the table to prevent a nuclear Iran.

important partner for the United States and a key ally in our foreign policy initiatives for over 75 years. The U.S.Israel relationship is rooted in mutual security concerns and a shared support of democracy. In Congress, I will work to strengthen this special relationship by supporting efforts to provide foreign and military aid, solidifying the cultural ties between our two countries, and advocating for foreign policy measures that support our alliance.

As a former Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy who was deployed aboard the U.S.S. Trenton during Operation Enduring Freedom, I am steadfast in my resolve to fight terrorism and believe we must support our allies during times of crises and attack. On October 7th, Israel was attacked by terrorists, and they must defend themselves against future attacks. We should increase our efforts to support our democratic allies across the world by funding our full foreign aid budget and by promoting efforts to support democracy and Western values.

JCRC: As a Member of Congress, what would you say to those who deny Israel’s legitimacy and its right to defend itself and its people?

MCS: Israel has a right to exist – that is both a moral and geopolitical imperative. Israel has been an

In Congress, I will honor and support the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding between the Israeli and United States governments. As a core ally to the United States, this commitment to continue aid to Israel without additional conditions signifies the strong and enduring relationship between the United States and Israel, particularly in the realm of defense and security cooperation. This aid is crucial for Israel's security and defense capabilities in a volatile region, particularly after the October 7th terrorist attack committed by Hamas.

Miriam Adelson donates $100M to Trump campaign, making good on reported promise

Asaf Elia-Shalev (JTA) — Miriam Adelson has delivered on a pledge she reportedly made at the start of the general election season, donating $100 million to a campaign committee supporting the candidacy of Donald Trump, according to disclosures filed Tuesday, Oct. 15 with the Federal Election Commission.

The money was distributed to Adelson’s super PAC, Preserve America, which she had seeded earlier this year with $5 million, in a series of installments: $25 million a month in July, August and September and an additional $20 million at the end of September.

A major funder of pro-Israel politics and a prolific donor to Jewish

causes, Adelson, 79, is carrying on a legacy she built with her late husband, casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. The Adelson family has long been one of the largest sources of campaign money for Republican candidates and has backed Trump during each of the last three general elections. Now, the widow is wielding an estimated net worth of $35 billion on her own. Though seen as more deliberate in her decision-making, she has not meaningfully departed from her late husband’s politics.

Her contribution was the largest in an array of new big money disclosures this month, eclipsing the $75 million contributed by Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and head of Tesla and SpaceX, to

CONNECT DISCOVER

his own pro-Trump super PAC.

If Trump wins, Adelson could once again be instrumental in shaping American policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Miriam Adelson and her husband were influential in Trump’s monumental decision to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the country’s contested capital city of Jerusalem in 2017.

Her praise for the former president includes suggesting in 2019 that a “Book of Trump” be added to the Bible. The following year, he awarded Adelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

she reportedly spends much of her time nowadays in Israel, where she is known as the owner of the country’s largest newspaper, Israel Hayom.

If Trump wins, Adelson could once again be instrumental in shaping American policy on the IsraeliPalestinian conflict.

Her writing in the newspaper since the attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, makes clear that she’s been swept up in the political and social fervor gripping the country as it mourns the dead and seeks retribution. She said those who don’t support Israel in its campaign against Hamas are “dead to us.”

Adelson’s ties to Israel run deep. She was born in Tel Aviv during the British Mandate and speaks fluent Hebrew. She also served as an officer in the Israeli military. Though her business empire is based in the United States,

Adelson’s spokesperson earlier this year denied a report that she conditioned support for Trump on his public endorsement of Israeli annexation of the West Bank. But a top confidant, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, told the New York Times she’s against the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Miriam Adelson

BUSINESS

Rewards Checking

AT WORK TOGETHER

Editor’s note: Back in ‘the olden days’ it was practically expected that children would work in their parents’ business or profession when they reached adulthood. The nature of the business didn’t matter – from a mom-and-pop shop to an insurance office to medicine to law – and seemingly everything in between. Not so anymore. When it does happen, however, it’s worth noting and writing about.

In Jewish Tidewater, we have several fortunate parents who work alongside their adult children, as well as with other families.

Family, Inc.

Stephanie Peck

Operating a business can be hard work. Decisions related to finances, employees, and procedures are not for the faint-of-heart. Add a family member to this mix, and the daily grind can become more complicated with differing opinions, changes in technology, and a desire for a new work-life balance.

Three multi-generational businesses are profiled in this special section, and they all seem to agree on one operational faux pas: no shop talk during family time.

BUSINESS

Todd and Ryan Kletz: Knowing when to turn up the heat and how to cool down

Recognized around town as the guys in the TV commercials touting their One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning business, Ryan Kletz joined his dad, Todd Kletz, at work in 2008. Theirs is a story of appreciating the strengths of each other’s generational skills and norms.

Todd Kletz

One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning

Residential Sales, Service and Maintenance of Home Comfort Systems

Jewish News: How do you collaborate professionally with your son?

Todd Kletz: Our business was founded in 1979, and Ryan joined our team in 2008. After several years of entry level and mid manager positions, he ascended to a leadership position around 2010. As part of the management team, he was included in our daily/weekly managers meeting where he watched, listened, and learned. That continued until several years ago, when he assumed the role of general manager. At that same time, I relinquished most of my daily responsibilities. A good portion of our collaboration from the beginning has been done in a more informal setting, usually involving conversations on business philosophies and specific operational challenges, as well as long range goals and aspirations for the business as well as us as individuals.

JN: Do you find generational differences in the operation of One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning? If so, what are they?

TK: First, communication style. I adapted to email quickly, finding it to be useful in both my internal and external communications. I still have not embraced texting, however, to the extent that Ryan and his team has as a preferred method of communicating.

Second, work ethic and attitude. For the most part, Ryan’s work ethic aligns with mine; however, he has cautioned me through the years that our work force tends to emphasize work-life balance, often prioritizing flexibility and purpose over traditional notions of loyalty and hours worked.

Third, technology. Ryan and his team are quick to embrace new tools and platforms while I am more cautious.

JN: What have you learned from each other?

TK: Working together reinforces shared values about hard work and responsibility. Additionally, we have learned about each other’s strengths, appreciated the different perspectives, and gained a better understanding of cooperation.

JN: What advice would you give to other family members who work together?

TK: The primary focus should be on shared goals that benefit the organization. Encourage honest communication but recognize that there ultimately needs to be a well-defined process of making major decisions. Clearly outline each person’s responsibilities. Acknowledge the need to separate work and family time and avoid family dynamics that can undermine work relationships.

Ryan Kletz

One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning

Residential Sales, Service and Maintenance of Home Comfort Systems

Jewish News: How do you collaborate professionally with each other?

Ryan Kletz: There is a ton of communication, mostly via quick emails; however, phone calls and in-person meetings are not out of the question. I have over 45 years of business knowledge just an

email away. How lucky am I?

As we make decisions, I like to think there aren’t any key decisions which haven’t been vetted through the other person. Our team in general is a collaborative effort, so seeking others’ opinions on key decisions is something that is not unique for anyone on our team. I just have the luxury of having him (Todd) as one of my points of reference.

JN: Do you find generational differences in the operation of One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning? If so, what are they?

JN: What have you learned from your father?

RK: I consider my father to be the smartest businessman I have ever personally met. When you have a direct line to the person you hold in such regards, what I have learned is endless. While some of the biggest takeaways are fundamental business principles, watching him live them and instill them in our team has been my foundation.

There simply is not enough time or space to list individual things I have learned from him.

RK: I don’t think that there is any way that there are not generational differences, simply because, well, we are from different generations. Culture has changed over the years. Values have changed over the years (time off for our team is of more value than money at times). As a business, we would be unfair to our team and our customers if we didn’t evolve.

All these things can be a challenge to adapt to. However, our core remains the same. We look to serve our customers, our teammates, the stakeholders of the business, and the community.

JN: What advice would you give to other family members who work together?

RK: “Oy vey” would be a great place to start!!! Family business is a challenge. I currently work with both of my brothers -in-law as well. Whether it is my dad or my siblings, a quote for family business that I like to use is “the highs are higher, and the lows are lower.”

It has been a constant learning process on how to separate business from family. My advice would be, from day one, to focus on separation of those two things.

Todd and Ryan Kletz.

BUSINESS

Charlie, Michael, and Stephen Nusbaum: Protecting family time from business time

When Charlie Nusbaum joined S.L. Nusbaum Insurance Agency, his parents were both working at the agency. Now, his sons, Michael and Stephen, are part of the TEAM – from generation to generation.

Charles S. Nusbaum

S.L. Nusbaum Insurance Agency

Business and personal insurance and employee benefits

Jewish News: How do you collaborate professionally with your sons?

Charlie Nusbaum: My simple advice is always work harder than anyone else in the agency; your name is on the door so act accordingly. I refer back to many things both of my parents taught me, because I was fortunate to have both in the business. Good and open communication is the key to all successes. I am more of a coach, giving examples of previous situations that occurred. The one thing I can improve is stopping when one of the team has a question. It’s not always a job, but an adventure. Make work fun and inclusive. Keep smiling.

JN: Do you find generational differences in the operation of Nusbaum Insurance? If so, what are they?

CN: Yes, there are definitely generational differences, but I am not deaf to learning new things. I learned this from my father and mother. I remind my children and the staff that we always can do better. The next generation definitely works differently and implements even smarter ways to complete their tasks than I have been trained.

JN: What have you learned from each other?

CN: I am not the best teacher at the beginning. Thus, we delegate to others who do it much better, and as they get more understanding of the operation,

I spend more time talking to them about managing the business and managing the people – the insurance company personnel, our team, and the clients, both future and current. I am better with them after they’ve learned some things, and then I can use more concrete examples of things that we’ve done in the past.

JN: What advice would you give to other family members who work together?

CN: The advice I give is always respect the prior generation, and what they have learned, and how they have done things. My wife has been very good about pushing separating business from family. I have not been that good, and the kids remind me occasionally it’s family time. We are a family business, but we want to make sure our clients are taken care of 24 hours a day. Another area is knowing and admitting everyone’s strengths and weaknesses. Learn from the best in each area.

I am consistent in pushing the TEAM approach in business, family life, and organizations. TEAM meaning Together Everyone Achieves More.

Michael Nusbaum

S.L. Nusbaum Insurance Agency

Business and personal insurance and employee benefits

Jewish News: How do you collaborate professionally with your father and brother?

Michael Nusbaum: Charlie, Stephen, and I serve in different roles, so there is quite a lot of collaboration to help our clients best. Stephen serves as our claims liaison, so when one of my clients suffers a loss, I heavily rely on him to help get them repaired and reimbursed as quickly as possible. Charlie’s expertise is immense, so leaning on him to navigate more complex coverages is a tremendous resource. He will also direct any referrals he receives to me to help facilitate the coverages needed.

JN: Do you find generational differences in the operation of Nusbaum Insurance? If so, what are they?

MN: Plenty of generational differences arise in our industry. Some of them center around technology literacy and trying to navigate systems from our carriers. When COVID hit, I think there was also a difficult adjustment to having the staff work from home and, similarly, once we transitioned to a hybrid work environment. Thankfully, any of the issues we had or may have tend to be quickly diffused with a conversation.

JN: What have you learned from each other?

MN: The lessons I have learned from my father are innumerable; I joined the firm very green to the insurance world, and

Charlie helped me manage the firehose of information you are trying to learn and implement. Stephen’s perspective and experience in the claims realm is vital to serving our primary purpose of getting our clients back on their feet after a claim.

JN: What advice would you give to other family members who work together?

MN: Like our founding fathers said, make sure there is a separation of church and state. While it may be easy to delve into “shop talk” when together at family functions, try your best to save those conversations for a work environment and focus in the moment on the family around you.

JN: Additional comments?

MN: I am incredibly grateful to get to work with my brother and father and the rest of our amazing team each day. The cohesiveness that we illustrate daily is inspiring.

Stephen Nusbaum

S.L. Nusbaum Insurance Agency

Business and personal insurance and employee benefits

Jewish News: How do you collaborate professionally with your dad and your brother?

Stephen, Michael, and Charlie Nusbaum.

Stephen Nusbaum: My role at the agency is unique, as I manage all claims, encompasssing both personal and commercial lines. I am constantly working with both account managers and producers as the claims process ebbs and flows with each scenario. I am constantly giving updates and asking questions of the producers, As we have been preparing for the transition of leadership, Michael and I have been working closely to make sure that not only the two of us are as prepared as possible but that the Agency as a whole is going to be put into a position to succeed.

JN: Do you find generational differences in the operation of Nusbaum Insurance? If so, what are they?

SN: There are notable generational dif ferences in the operation of the Agency. When we transitioned leadership from my grandparents to my father, there were changes, and as the third generation prepares to assume leadership, further changes are already underway. Most of these changes are systematic, aimed at enhancing efficiency and streamlining processes. A key focus for us is to ensure that, while implementing these systematic changes, we remain true to our core values as an Agency and do not compromise the foundation we have built.

JN: What have you learned from each other?

SN: Working with my dad and my brother, there is over 50 years of experience to learn from. I am constantly asking questions about different things and how to handle them. The beauty of insurance is that there is always something new to learn. Things are always changing, whether it’s a new claims scenario or a new start business. That’s what makes it fun and interesting, always learning something new.

JN: What advice would you give to other family members who work together?

SN: Enjoy it. I know that may be hard sometimes, given it is tough to separate work and personal life. But I am truly grateful to have a strong relationship with both my dad and my brother. We work well together. We try to establish boundaries when we have to turn the work off if we are on vacation or something.

BUSINESS

Ronnie Brooke and Todd Goldman: Making decisions together at Southern Packing

Afamily-owned and operated business for more than 80 years, Ronnie Brooke and his cousin, Todd Goldman, keep the communication lines open and always find something to laugh about.

Ronnie Brooke Southern Packing Corporation

RB: Well, it’s not an easy task these days. So many external factors in the world. We work with so many different personalities (referring to our employees). You must depend on each other and let cooler heads prevail. At the end of the day, you want to be able to have a nice conversation and still

be able to get together for a family dinner. In reflection, as I get older, it’s been a good experience. But as anyone knows, in a family business, it’s hard to shut it out completely. It’s what you do every day. It stays with you. I’ve worked hard, but I’ve been fortunate to work with a good family!

Todd Goldman Southern Packing Corporation Wholesale Meats

Jewish News: How do you collaborate professionally with your cousin?

Todd Goldman: Our whole business is a collaboration. Whether it be the buying

VIRGINIA BEACH: HILLTOP EAST NORFOLK: THE PALACE SHOPS

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BUSINESS

or selling of products, repairs or purchases of equipment, or most importantly, issues with employees, we discuss everything first. Most, if not all, decisions here are made jointly.

JN: Do you find generational differences in the operation of Southern Packing? If so, what are they?

TG: I am fourth generation here at Southern so, yes, there were huge generational differences when I first started. It was myself, Ronnie, my grandfather, Hyman, and two great uncles, Leonard and Benny. The largest difference was technology. We didn’t have computers when I came here, so getting used to doing things the “old school” way took some time. As the older generation retired, the differences dwindled, and I was able to make some changes.

JN: What have you learned from each other?

TG: I have been in the food business since I graduated college in the 90’s but never on the direct sales side. Basically,

everything I know about meats has come from Ronnie. He was also instrumental in teaching me what to expect when dealing with employees or when working along with the rest of the family. Most of this business is learned by trial and error; however, Ronnie did help with suggesting which customers to call on at first and how to handle pricing with each type of customer.

JN: What advice would you give to other family members who work together?

TG: Leave work at work. Even though at family gatherings it always comes up and it’s hard not to talk business, everyone needs a break. Always keep lines of communication open.

JN: Additional comments?

TG: It was an honor when Ronnie came to me 20 years ago and asked me to come into the family business. I have friends who are in family owned or run businesses, but none that can say they are fourth generation.

Todd Goldman and Ronnie Brooke.

BUSINESS

JOHN STEIN BRINGS A TASTE OF NEW YORK TO TIDEWATER

Stephanie Peck

Start spreading the news…Ess-a-Bagel has made its way from New York to Tidewater.

Baker’s Crust Bagel, a new concept by restauranteur John Stein, is now open at The Shops at Hilltop. The eatery features a full menu of Ess-a-Bagel bagels, deli sandwiches, and Three Ships Coffee, along with side options, including pickles, coleslaw, and assorted salads and desserts.

by an Austrian Jewish baking family, Ess-a-Bagel has a loyal following in New York and beyond. For Baker’s Crust Bagel, Ess-a-Bagel’s bagels are mixed, hand-shaped, and boiled in New York –but baked in Virginia. “It’s an authentic New York bagel,” Stein says.

The Hilltop location is a bit different from the old-style New York deli, Stein points out. He purposely designed the location to be a brighter, happier space. Bagels are not the only menu item fashioned from New York; the pastrami comes from Carnegie Deli (cooked on-site), and the belly nova is sliced thin like Katz’s Deli.

In the restaurant business for 31 years, Stein reminisces about Mike’s Deli on Colley Ave. in Ghent, where the corned beef was sliced to order. “I always had in my mind to bring that back to the area,” he says. And now, he is on his way.

Since Stein was already buying Ess-aBagel bagels for his other restaurants, he approached the owners about opening a local store, and they were willing.

Established in New York City in 1976

“We take great pride in being authentic. A lot of care and love goes into our product,” Stein says.

Stein also serves as president of Baker’s Crust, a chain of restaurants with artisan kitchens, and he owns Virginia Beach’s Quemar wood fired cocina, a casual restaurant serving Latin American and Mexican cuisine.

Since Baker’s Crust Bagel resides next door to CycleBar, an indoor cycling workout studio, Stein added healthier options to the menu. Acai bowls and smoothies add to the assortment (Stein’s favorite is PB Power Up), and he even sources the artisan granola from out-ofstate. “These additions make our bagel store special. We are offering more than a bagel sandwich.” Ten varieties of seltzer-whipped cream cheese, made from fresh ingredients, populate the assortment.

Stein also mentions that customers are grateful for the gluten-free bagels, which come from New Jersey. Although the bagels are pricier to import, Stein wants the offering on his menu at an affordable price.

“A lot goes on behind the scenes that people are unaware of,” he says. Growing pains include adjusting from a full-service operation, like Baker’s Crust restaurants, to the fast-casual model of a bagel store. Kiosks and hand-held ordering devices are available, although customer service

remains a top priority. Some customers, he says, are already returning two, three, and four times each week.

Looking ahead, Stein says he envisions an open drive-thru location as part of an expansion of Baker’s Crust Bagel. As their website proclaims, it’s possible to “escape to a New York state of mind at Baker's Crust Bagel” without ever leaving Tidewater, and perhaps in the future, even without leaving the car.

John Stein.

BUSINESS

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Tel Aviv University ranks first outside the USA in number of unicorn startups established by its alumni

A new study from Stanford University ranks Tel Aviv University (TAU) first in Israel and first in the world outside the United Sates of America in the number of unicorns (privately held startup companies valued at over $1 billion) established by its alumni.

According to the study, led by entrepreneurship researcher Professor Ilya Strebulaev of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford University is first in the world in the number of unicorns founded by its alumni, and TAU is first outside of the USA with 43 unicorns. The ranking, which counts the total number of unicorns regardless of university size, is based on a dataset of 1,100 startups that have raised more than $1 billion from venture capital funds in the USA.

their own startups, which in the future may become unicorns.”

“We incorporate entrepreneurship into the curriculum”

The new index joins a long series of entrepreneurship rankings, all of which rank TAU as the leader in producing entrepreneurs outside the USA. In 2022, Pitchbook ranked TAU seventh in the world and first outside the USA in the number of venture-capital-backed startups founded by alumni. Startup Genome also ranked TAU among the leading universities, right after Stanford, MIT, Harvard, and UC Berkeley, and first outside the USA.

“Professor Strebulaev’s findings prove once again that TAU is Israel’s entrepreneurial university, nurturing more startups — and specifically more unicorns — than any other university in the country,” says Professor Moshe Zviran, chief entrepreneurship and innovation officer at TAU and former dean of TAU’s Coller School of Management.

“We no longer wait for the ‘magic’ to occur,” Professor Zviran adds. “We incorporate entrepreneurship into the curriculum — in the classic disciplines like computer science, engineering, and management, but also in the faculties of humanities, social sciences, law, and the arts. In fact, most students at TAU can now include an entrepreneurship cluster as an integral part of their studies for a degree, thereby acquiring tools for establishing

“There are many entrepreneurship rankings, each based on different parameters,” Professor Zviran says. “All of them, however, indicate that TAU is the best entrepreneurship incubator in the world outside the USA. We made a strategic decision to position TAU as Israel’s main entrepreneurial university, and proactively buttress our technological and business advantage as a means for producing startups and unicorns. These achievements have been based solely on the outstanding quality of our faculty, students, and curriculum. The focused activities of our Entrepreneurship & Innovation Ecosystem are expected to bring even greater accomplishments.”

Tel Aviv University (TAU) is a globally top-ranked university, a leading research institution, and a center of discovery. As Israel’s largest public institution of higher learning, TAU is home to 30,000 students, including 2,100 international students from over 100 countries. The University

Hebrew University Study: Expressing workplace anger is not the way to get ahead

While a large body of previous research suggests that workers who express anger are judged to be competent and hold a high status—resulting in more power and money—a new study by The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Princeton University researchers debunks this consensus.

In a new study published in Frontiers in Social Psychology, the researchers revisited these claims in U.S. experiments using similar methods as in previous work. In four preregistered, robust studies, the researchers revisited the paradigms that tested whether expressing anger could help a worker gain status in the workplace. Specifically, they asked: do workers gain status when they express anger? Is anger perceived to be a signal of competence? And at the most basic level: do others like anger in the workplace?

“We found that anger isn’t a catalyst for higher status in the workplace,” says Roni Porat, a senior lecturer at Hebrew University in the departments of Political Science and International Relations, who conducted the study along with Elizabeth Levy Paluck of Princeton University. “Moreover, we found that anger is regarded more poorly than other emotional expressions like sadness. The only instance in which anger is considered as positive is when it is expressed in response to another person’s clear wrongdoing. These findings hold for both men and women expressing anger in the workplace.”

The data suggests that even though people assume that individuals expressing anger have higher status, they do not reward the expression of anger with more status because they find anger to be inappropriate, cold, an overreaction, and counter-instrumental for workplace goals. The researchers also found that people hold negative attitudes toward workplace anger expressions, citing them as relatively more harmful, foolish, and worthless compared to other emotional expressions.

“To test the boundaries of our findings, we varied the gender of the worker

expressing the emotion (men or women), the target of the emotional expression (another person, the circumstances), and the context in which the emotion was expressed (job interview, a normal workday, etc.),” Porat says. The study also “varied the workers’ gender to understand whether our findings held for both men and women. This is important given some work demonstrating that women are penalized for expressing anger while men

are rewarded.

“Despite influential studies in this area, we didn’t find that women’s anger is regarded differently than men’s anger,”

Porat says. “At first glance, it seems like these findings contradict a large body of previous work on gender and anger at work. Two possible explanations are that gendered norms of anger expression have changed over time since previous studies were conducted, or that we used different samples compared to previous studies. These two explanations seem unlikely.”

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. Serving more than 23,000 students from 80 countries, the university produces nearly 40% of Israel’s civilian scientific research and has received more than 11,000 patents. Faculty and alumni of the Hebrew University have won eight Nobel Prizes and a Fields Medal.

The Mount Scopus campus of Hebrew University.

FOR DONOR ADVISED FUNDS: THINK “HUB,” NOT “AUTOPILOT”

TJF Staff

Most people know or have heard that a Donor Advised fund at Tidewater Jewish Foundation offers the convenience of a one-stop-shop. Cash (or, ideally, appreciated stock) tax-deductible contributions are made to the fund, and then the fund’s owner recommends grants to favorite charities. The team at TJF works with each fund holder to make certain they’re leveraging their Donor Advised fund to execute the full range of charitable giving each year, making it easier to keep track of where the money is going and how much over time.

No matter when a Donor Advised fund was established at Tidewater Jewish Foundation (whether it was years ago, or more recently) a new option to establish a Donor Advised fund makes it possible to involve children and grandchildren in philanthropic priorities.

Whatever the case, it’s wise to consider a few best practices for ensuring that a Donor Advised fund makes the most significant difference possible for the

causes important to the donor. Life gets busy, months fly by, and putting a Donor Advised fund on autopilot is tempting. But that would be a missed opportunity.

While TJF makes it easy to use Donor Advised funds for annual giving to charities, that’s not all it does. TJF’s team offers myriad ways to support philanthropic activities.

TJF can help establish a designated fund to support

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a specific charity long-term or a field-of-interest fund to focus on an area of community need. For those over 70½, it is possible to contribute up to $105,000 annually from an IRA to these restricted or permanent endowed funds, avoiding taxable income.

Funds may also be included in estate plans. Many fundholders name their Donor Advised funds, field-ofinterest funds, or TJF itself as beneficiaries in their wills or IRAs, providing tax benefits and creating a legacy.

In addition, TJF’s deep knowledge of local nonprofits, programs, and initiatives helps donors become more informed and effective philanthropists. This ensures that a donor’s giving makes a measurable impact and enhances their experience of charitable giving.

TJF’s team is ready to help make the most of Donor Advised funds and related strategies so that donors can put their money to work improving the community’s quality of life and achieve financial and philanthropic goals for their overall charitable giving.

For more information on how Tidewater Jewish Foundation can help with charitable planning, contact Naomi Limor Sedek, TJF president and CEO, at 757-965-6109 or nsedek@tjfva.org.

Amy Weinstein, TJF development strategist, and Naomi Limor Sedek, TJF president and CEO, welcome the opportunity to have personal and confidential legacy conversations.

BOOK REVIEW

TheArtofDiplomacy:HowAmericanNegotiators

ReachedHistoricAgreementsthatChangedtheWorld

Stuart E. Eizenstat

Rowman & Littlefield, 491 pp. $35

Reviewed by John Sutton

In my 56 years, I have been fortunate to meet many people who were a part of history. Sometimes I determined that meeting people who made and are a part of history is profoundly inspiring. Their stories, shaped by resilience and vision, offer invaluable lessons to all who are willing to listen. One such individual was Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat.

correlation between lasting peace in the region and the liberalization of trade and commerce. Given the current unrest on college campuses concerning economic investment, these words seem almost prophetic. Eizenstat’s insight went beyond the mere notion that the peace process historically limps along from

future generations about the dangers of intolerance and discrimination.

Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat will be joined by Virginia Beach City Councilman Joash Schulman for a conversation*

Ambassador Eizenstat’s latest book, The Art of Diplomacy, takes a deep look at the history and complexity of international negotiation and those who live it every day. Reading it brought me back to my meetings with him, and again, I was reminded of his impact. Engaging with the Ambassador both with several of my students and later interviewing him for an international-related podcast, fostered a deeper appreciation for his contributions and motivated me to pursue meaningful change, reminding us that history is crafted by those who dare to act.

To me, his most daring act was to advocate and spearhead negotiations related to Holocaust-era assets during a time when not many people wanted to take that on. He led efforts to resolve claims against Swiss banks for their role in holding the assets of Holocaust victims. His leadership helped facilitate agreements that provided reparations and restitution to survivors and their families, showcasing his dedication to justice and accountability.

Monday, November 18, 7:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus

Born in 1943, Eizenstat’s education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Chicago Law School laid the foundation for a multifaceted career that spans law, government, and international diplomacy.

Among Eizenstat’s many notable accomplishments, he served as Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, where he advocated for American businesses and promoted international trade agreements. He helped bolster the U.S. economy in the 1990s, a period characterized by globalization and increased competition in international markets. Eizenstat’s expertise in trade policy advanced U.S. interests abroad and reinforced the significance of multilateral trade relations.

Eizenstat also impacted how the United States viewed the peace process in the Middle East. In 1997, during remarks at the Doha Economic Conference, he presented a bold new outlook, highlighting the

crisis to crisis and sea-change is unattainable. Eizenstat understood that a new dynamic must involve an economic track as well as a diplomatic track.

His time in Jordan, Egypt, the West Bank, and Gaza showed him that without peace, there can be no prosperity, but just as importantly, without prosperity and economic opportunity, there can be no peace. His influence extended beyond economic policy into the realm of human rights and international justice. As the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, he was instrumental in the creation of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, which stands as a testament to his commitment to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and educating

This latest book showcases his substantial contributions to academia and public discourse. His writings, including books and countless articles, reflect his deep engagement with issues of public policy, international relations, and human rights. Through these works, he has influenced both scholarly debate and public understanding of complex issues, advocating for principles that align with democracy and human dignity.

Eizenstat continues to serve as a valued advisor with the State Department. His quiet and continued commitment to diplomacy, humanity, and public service reflects a broader understanding of the interconnectedness of global life and the importance of fostering collaboration among all people.

John Sutton has served in various academic administrative and faculty positions with Virginia Beach City Public Schools for more than 17 years. In 2011, he formed the Foreign Policy Work Group, which brings experts and policymakers in foreign affairs together with high school students to develop a deeper understanding of foreign policy.

*The presentation is part of the Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with the Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, Simon Family JCC, and Community Partners’ 14th annual Israel Today series. Learn more and register at JewishVA.org/BookFest.

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Professionally managed by Beth Sholom Village with over 40 years of experience. For more information, contact Allison Hechtkopf at (757) 961-3046.

AvivaPembroke.com

BOOK REVIEW

The Counterfeit Countess: The Jewish Woman Who Rescued Thousands of PolesDuringtheHolocaust

Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa

Simon & Schuster

336 pp.

$28.99

Reviewed by Sherry Lieberman

The Counterfeit Countess is an unforgettable account of inspiring courage, resilience, and humanity in the face of unspeakable cruelty. This book is a biography of Jewish mathematician Dr. Josephine Janina Spinner Mehlberg, born May 1, 1905, to wealthy Jewish parents in Poland. Mehlberg posed as Catholic aristocrat Countess Janina Suchodolska during World War II and was able to provide welfare services, food, and supplies to prisoners at Majdanek concentration camp using her alias.

Elizabeth White and Joanna Sliwa will be joined by Carol Jason for a conversation*

Thursday, November 7, 12 pm Sandler Family Campus

Mehlberg earned her doctorate in 1928 and then met and married a fellow student, Henry, a philosopher, and settled in Lwow (now Lviv), Poland. When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, the couple fled to Lublin, where a family friend provided them with new identities as Count and Countess Suchodolska. The “Countess” connected with the resistance, provided aid during a typhus epidemic, and negotiated with the camp Commandant, which led to the release of more than 3,000 Catholic Poles.

The Mehlbergs survived the war and emigrated to Chicago, Illinois. In her memoirs, Mehlberg describes horrific acts and suffering during the war, often asking herself, “What made me go on?... If I did not go on, I would have had no reason to live. I had to live and go on to answer the need.” Her story is a call for tolerance, mercy, and hope – a powerful testament to the acts of a Jewish woman who was one

of the best frauds ever. The story reveals that Josephine Janina Spinner Mehlberg was a truly remarkable, brilliant, and quickwitted woman. In her words, “There is nothing left to do for those who perished but to remember. And in the way of my ancestors, intone the Kaddish for the dead, and like the real Countess Suchodolska, WE WILL REMEMBER...”

Sherry Lieberman facilitates the JCC Book Club, which meets on the third Monday of the month at the Simon Family JCC. For more information, contact Mia Klein at MKlein@ UJFT.org or 757-452-3184.

*The presentation is part of the Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. Pre-registration required. Learn more and register at JewishVA.org/BookFest.

WHO KNEW?

FIRST PERSON

We bought the viral Amazon ‘tuchus’ boxes for Sukkot. What does that say about us?

(JTA) — The brightly colored “Sukkot boxes” offered up on Amazon boasted the colors of spring, not fall; had no ostensible use for the Jewish holiday; and contained a Hebrew misspelling that bordered on obscene.

Reader, I bought them.

And it wasn’t just me. Enabled by our Prime accounts, Jews across the United States shelled out about $15 for a dozen ready-to-construct cardboard boxes emblazoned with Hebrew letters that spelled out a phonetic variation on “tuchus” — the Yiddish word meaning “butt.”

“It was a bit of an impulse buy, but I thought it was hilarious,” says Erin Stern of Baltimore, who says she definitely would not have purchased the product had it spelled “Sukkot” correctly. “My husband thinks I’m crazy.”

Stern, like many others who clicked “buy,” made the purchase after seeing the product — with its botched Hebrew and incongruous iconography that included, for some reason, a man’s black hat — mocked on social media.

handles, and the whole bottom just fell right apart,” she says. “So, yeah, they are not intended to hold much weight.”

Metaphorical challenge accepted. I set out to get answers to some pretty big questions: What does it mean about contemporary Judaism and capitalism that these boxes were available? And what does it mean about contemporary Jews that we bought them?

Rabbi Yael Buechler, a self-appointed watchdog of massmarket Judaica, says she’d purchased the boxes herself after posting on social media about them.

“Amazon creator who clearly doesn’t speak Hebrew,” Yaakov Langer, a prominent Jewish digital creator, tweeted in late September along with the laughing-until-crying emoji and two product photos showing the boxes — one imposed onto a scene of a family lighting a Hanukkah menorah, the other onto an image of a family at a Passover seder table.

He added, “Wishing you and your family a Happy & Healthy Tuchus.”

For anyone who has tried copying and pasting Hebrew into an English-language document, the source of the error is obvious: Many apps will flip the order of the Hebrew letters. The phonetic spelling of “tuchus” on the boxes is an accurate spelling of Sukkot, but in reverse.

In Atlanta, Heather Blank is using the boxes to deliver treats to fellow members of her synagogue who helped High Holiday services go off without a hitch while their rabbi is on family leave.

“I just thought they were hysterical,” Blank, a past president of congregation Or Hadash, says. But she notes that they crumpled when she tried to include apple-scented candles and juice boxes.

“The first one I put together, I picked it up by the

“I think I needed to see if it was real,” she says. “Sometimes there are product images that are sort of warped online. And I just wanted to know if this was really the case, that a product could be out there spelled completely backwards.”

Buechler notes that Hebrew letters are routinely mangled by mass merchandisers. She recently succeeded in getting the homedecor store West Elm to remove a Hanukkah garland featuring felt dreidels with inaccurate letters.

“It’s not just limited to Amazon,” she says.

Blank says she suspected that someone with no knowledge of Jews or Judaism had noticed an uptick in sales of premade boxes before Purim, the Jewish holiday that includes deliveries of food treats, and tried to replicate that for the fall.

“I feel like someone has made a connection: Somewhere, some data said, ‘Oh, we sold a lot of these. Let’s sell them for the other holidays, too,’” she says. “I don’t think there’s any thought at all in this particular product as to, oh, yes, this is us letting the Jews have more products or feel more represented. I think this is: Let us sell more things.”

Stern says she had mixed feelings imagining how her Sukkot boxes came to be. “It shows that we are really such a minority, that there is no one that is able to oversee the mass marketing of these types of vendors, and to ensure that Judaica goods are properly put out into the world,” she says.

Clarification about the Sukkot boxes’ origin story, or their prospects for improvement, would not come from Howaf, the Amazon seller from which I bought mine. The storefront, one of an increasing number with nonsensical names slinging a wide range of unrelated products, shares no contact information. The Sukkot boxes are no longer

available from Howaf, which sells paper goods and decor for dozens of occasions, but many identical products are available from vendors with names such as JZXUAO, Orxiery and ABTOLS. None of them indicated a way to be contacted, either.

The purveyors are all part of the flood of “pseudobrands” that all contributed to Amazon’s $30 billion in profits last year. According to a 2020 New York Times investigation, copycat sellers are usually single Chinese manufacturers who use multiple invented names to exploit Amazon’s sales algorithms while complying with U.S. trademark laws. Rather than offer a brand promise of their own, they exist only to wrest value out of the customers that Amazon has captured.

Buechler sells Jewish holiday pajamas and other products through her company Midrash Manicures — and is skeptical of Amazon. “Amazon is not a place where small businesses can thrive,” she says.

Shoshana Gottlieb, a Jewish educator in Australia who has gained a wide audience on her account Jewish Memes Only, was so enamored of the Sukkot boxes that she asked a friend in the United States to mail them to her. They arrived just before the holiday.

“Easy answer is because they’re really funny,” Gottlieb says as to why she had gone the extra 10,000 miles to procure her own boxes.

She had a more substantive answer, too. “I also think it’s always a bit refreshing to have something go Jewish-viral that isn’t heartbreakingly sad or upsetting and is instead a very unfortunate design error,” Gottlieb wrote.

Indeed, Buechler says she thought the tuchus boxes had arrived at precisely the right time, as Jews around the world prepared to mark the first anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

“There’s been so much going on that we were saying that we want shana yoter tova, a year that’s better. And I think we just needed this extra boost of humor leading up to what will be a very tough Sukkot, as we think about last year’s Sukkot and its aftermath,” she says. “I think we really needed a ‘happy tuchus’ right now.”

As for me — I’ve been too busy asking other people to explain my impulse buy even to unwrap my boxes, and I don’t know what, if anything, I’ll use them for.

It’s too late to place Sukkot orders for use this year. But don’t worry: TecUnite’s Amazon storefront has already started selling Hanukkah-themed cardboard boxes — with Christmas-colored red-and-green cookies visible through the cellophane window.

Philissa Cramer

Local and Experienced…a winning combination!

IT’S A WRAP

Supporting grieving children for 25 years

Kelly Burroughs

Twenty-five years ago, Jewish Family Service and Edmarc, a children’s hospice program, partnered to develop Peace by Piece, an emotional safe haven for kids and teens who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Adult support groups for the caregivers are also available. All groups are free and open to the entire community.

On Tuesday, Oct. 15, families, volunteers, staff, and past and present board members from both agencies gathered at the Women’s Club of Portsmouth to celebrate 25 years of this unique collaboration. Emceed by Joe Flanniggan, former feature reporter for WTKR and WVEC, the event featured an evening of fellowship and stories of hope and inspiration by young people who were past participants of the program, as well as from volunteers.

“Peace by Piece was a place where I could come and talk about my dad with other kids who understood where I was coming from,” said one former participant. “I couldn’t talk to my friends at school, because they didn’t understand, and would avoid me because they didn’t know how to act towards me or what to say after my dad died. But at Peace by Piece, I could be myself.”

JFS presented Edmarc with its biennial Community Service Award for outstanding partnership and collaboration.

“This has been an incredible partnership for all of these years,” said Debbie Mayer, director of clinical services for JFS. “The program has changed the lives of grieving families.”

Debbie Stitzer-Brame, executive director for Edmarc, and Megan Gillespie, Edmarc’s director of community support, presented a special recognition award to Mayer for her 25 years of dedication to the Peace by Piece program. “Debbie was one of the initial founders of the program and has touched the lives of children and families through this program for two and a half decades,” said Stitzer-Brame.

Losing a loved one is never easy and can be especially difficult for children. For additional information about the Peace by Piece program, or to explore counseling options, call the Embrace Counseling offices at 757-459-4640.

Kelly Burroughs, Jewish Family Service CEO, may be reached at kburroughs@jfshamptonroads.org.

Stephanie Peck, Andrei Niazdoimin, Harry Graber, Michele Finley, Debbie Mayer, Dorothy Salomonsky, Brooke Rush, Jamie McMahan-Adler, Fletcher Neville, Meril Amdursky, and Kelly Burroughs.

BeAR BEGINS 25TH YEAR

The Be A Reader (BeAR) Literacy Program is celebrating a major milestone this year, and what better way to begin the year than with United Jewish Federation hosting the largest ever BeAR kickoff luncheon. Now in its 25th year, the BeAR program continues to ignite a love of reading with young Norfolk and Virginia Beach Title I school students.

The festive luncheon, held at the

a hearty welcome for several newcomers, it was clear that the BeAR spirit was strong.

Gail Flax, one of the founders of the BeAR program and its beloved chair, led the event with an inspiring message, “For 25 years, BeAR has been building brighter futures through the power of reading.

This year, thanks to each of you, we’re set to reach even more students and make an even greater impact.”

Simon Family JCC, brought together mentors eager to start a fresh year of sharing stories and inspiring kids. With fun book décor, delicious food, lots of laughter, and

The luncheon’s guest speaker, Mike Goldsmith, Tidewater Regional Security Advisor (RSA) with the Secure Community Network (SCN), the homeland security and safety initiative of the organized Jewish community in North America, shared valuable insights with mentors, discussing different types of security drills and how to respond to potential situations in public schools. His presentation reassured attendees and equipped them with tools to ensure their safety and that of the students they serve.

Attendees were given special BeAR 25th Anniversary tote bags filled with everything they would need to start the year with their new reading student. With some helpful tips on engaging young readers and fostering a lifelong love of books from Flax and Larrymore Elementary

School’s principal, David Faircloth, mentors left the event excited to get started.

As BeAR celebrates its silver anniversary, the program continues to grow, reaching more schools and communities.

The BeAR Literacy Program is always looking for passionate readers to make a difference in a child’s life. Now is the perfect time to get involved.

Contact Robin Ford at 757-321-2304 or rford@ujft.org.

Karen Joyner

As the Chief Executive Officer at the Peninsula Foodbank, she believes the Foodbank not only distributes food but is also the spokesperson for those who otherwise don’t have a voice.

“There are so many low income individuals who haven’t received any benefit from the recovering economy and those who because of their life circumstances need help every now and then. We are there to help ensure their voices are heard.”

“Since 2004, when I started with the Foodbank and got to know Payday Payroll, I have always felt that Payday has been involved and helped to build it’s business through positive support for others in the community, both non-profits and start up businesses. I particularly appreciate the generosity that Payday has shown to the nonprofits in our community.”

Our client relationships are anything but transactional. We are long-term partners, dedicated to the success of our clients, and most importantly, their people.

Robin Ford

MEET:

More than 80 BeAR mentors enjoy camaraderie, lunch, and BeAR training at the annual luncheon.

Gail Flax speaks to more than 80 BeAR mentors at the 2024/25 Annual BeAR kickoff luncheon.

Mizrahi culture through music and dance: Experience

traditions

Middle Eastern Jewry

Jackie Dratch

The terms “Ashkenazi” or “Sephardic,” might be familiar, but not as much for “Mizrahi.”

Mizrahi comes from the Hebrew word “Mizrach,” which means east. Mizrahi Jewish communities, sometimes known as “Oriental Jews,” originate from countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, and Uzbekistan. While Sephardic communities in Europe fled back east due to the Spanish Inquisition, Mizrahi Jewish communities have lived continuously in North Africa and the Middle East. For centuries, Mizrahi and Sephardic Jewish communities have mixed with one another and coexisted mostly peacefully with their various

neighbors. Jewish communities thrived from the Atlantic Ocean to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, from Casablanca to Alexandria and Baghdad.

In the wake of the Holocaust, the establishment of the state of Israel, and the rise of Arab nationalism, the Sephardi/ Mizrahi Jews in North Africa and the Middle East were subjected to pogroms, riots, arrest, and detention. Within one generation, from 1948 to 1973, nearly one million of these people were displaced and became refugees. Tragically, they were forced to leave the land their families had lived on for more than 2,000 years. Today, most Mizrahi Jews live in Israel and comprise more than half of the population, sharing and mixing their unique cultural traditions into what is known and

loved about Israeli society.

So, what does a girl from Queens, N.Y. living in Virginia Beach have to do with all this? I feel so lucky to have grown up with my Mizrahi Israeli family in New York but also to have experienced weddings, holidays, and life cycle events with my Mizrahi friends whose families came from countries such as Egypt, Uzbekistan, and Iran. I have also spent the last 17 years teaching and performing various styles of Middle Eastern dances.

When I was home during COVID in 2020, however, I had time to combine my three passions in life: Israel, dance, and Judaism. I started researching and collecting information on traditional dances from Jewish communities from countries such as Morocco, Yemen, Tunisia, and others. This led me to create the Mizrahi Dance Archive, an online platform designed to celebrate these ancient traditions and share these rich dances with the world. After creating the archive, I started using dance education to teach Jewish and non-Jewish communities about Mizrahi history, culture, music, and dance. I worked with organizations such as BBYO, JIMENA: Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa, The Institute of Jewish Experience, Jewish Arts Collaborative, the Consulate General of Israel to New England, and more. In 2022, I was sponsored to take a research trip to study at the National Dance Library of Israel.

Mizrahi dance to Tidewater. Join me for an interactive lesson suitable for all ages. We will take a cultural tour through the Jewish Middle East as we learn about Mizrahi music, customs, holidays, spirituality, and more. And of course, we will dance. No previous dance experience is required, and it’s even possible to dance while sitting.

Sponsored by PJ Library in Tidewater and the Konikoff Center for Learning of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, this promises to be fun (and yes, belly dance hip scarves will be provided). Participants will also get a glimpse into different ways to “be Jewish.” Learning about Mizrahi culture demonstrates there are many ways to look and feel Jewish.

November is Mizrahi Heritage Month, and I am excited to bring my passion for

Jackie Dratch is a dancer and the creator of the Mizrahi Dance Archive. She is also a marketing associate at the Simon Family JCC and the PJ Library Military Parent coordinator for Tidewater. She may be reached at jdratch@ujft. org or www.mizrahidancearchive.com.

Jackie Dratch.

BBYO in Tidewater begins new year with increased participation

Last month’s BBYO kickoff event had a great turnout with about 20 Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) boys and 16 B’nai Brith Girls (BBG) attending.

The teens swam, ate pizza, caught up with old friends, and met some new additions to BBYO Tidewater. The night wrapped up with a Havdalah service and a look forward to the year ahead.

For more information about BBYO Tidewater or to get involved, visit BBYO.org or contact Lauren Revenson, regional director of the Eastern Region BBYO at LRevenson@BBYO.org.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

JCC BOOK CLUB: HOUSE ON FIRE

Monday, November 18, 1:30 pm Sandler Family Campus

The JCC Book Club will discuss The House is on Fire, a novel by Rachel Beanland. The story, set against the backdrop of a historical tragedy, promises to offer a thought-provoking conversation.

The club meets on the third Monday of each month at the Simon Family JCC, and it’s open to the entire community. Participants may join the discussion in person or via Zoom. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, share insights, and dive deep into the themes and characters of each book selection.

To attend or for more information about the club, contact Mia Klein at Mklein@ujft.org or Sherry Lieberman at joeann124@aol.com to get involved.

MITZVAH MALL

Learn about non-profit organizations making a difference in Tidewater Children and teens of all ages can discover the positive feeling of making an impact

Explore Jewish camps from across the eastern region & discover how they help build Jewish identity and foster community

Parents, grandparents, teens & tweens, are invited to stay for a Pizza Party at 12 PM to learn about the B’nai Tzedek Youth Philanthropy Program

Have any headlines intrigued you, and do you want to discuss them further with other passionate people? Join us at the Simon Family JCC for Roundtable Conversations!

Sam Levin

Teens at Tidewater’s BBYO kickoff event.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

SENIORS CLUB EXCLUSIVE EVENT WITH AUTHORS OF THE JOY OF COSTCO

Wednesday, November 20, 11:30 am

Sandler Family Campus

The Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival will host Susan and David Schwartz, authors of The Joy of Costco, for an exclusive 30-minute meet and greet with the JCC Seniors Club.

The Seniors Club, which meets on the third Wednesday of every month at the Simon Family JCC, is designed for adults 55 years and over who seek education, culture, and a sense of community. Membership is $15 per year, with a $6 lunch fee each month.

ROUND TABLE CONVERSATION –

THE NEW COFFEE AND CONVERSATION

Thursday, November 7, 1 pm, Sandler Family Campus

To better align with the group’s goals, “Coffee and Conversations” is now “Roundtable Conversations: Agree to Disagree,” with thoughtful discussions focusing on tougher, more challenging topics. United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the Simon Family JCC welcome curious minds to discuss timely topics, from the war in Israel to the latest health technology. Participants bring articles and invite friends to attend. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.Jewishva.org/RoundTable or contact Mia Klein at MKlein@UJFT.org.

Engaging Yiddish Club meets monthly Tuesday, November 5, 1 pm, Sandler Family Campus

The Yiddish Club offers a welcoming space for participants to engage in readings, discussions, and performances while enhancing their understanding of the Yiddish language. Attendees can expect lively conversations and insights from each other. The Yiddish Club meets monthly, fostering connections among individuals interested in culture and community. For more information, contact Mia Klein at MKlein@ujft.org.

Rabbi Ken Spiro visits Tidewater as a part of the Ann Zukerman Memorial Scholar-inResidence Weekend

Friday, Nov. 22, 8:15 pm and Saturday, Nov. 23 3:30 pm and 4:45 pm B’nai Israel

Saturday, Nov. 23 7:30 pm

Sandler Family Campus

Sierra Lautman

B’nai Israel Congregation’s Ann Zukerman Memorial Scholar-in-Residence weekend will feature Rabbi Ken Spiro.

Rabbi Spiro is a senior lecturer and researcher for Aish HaTorah, Jerusalem and a licensed tour guide for the Israel Ministry of Tourism. He is known for his quick-paced, humorous style and his discussions of the world through a Jewish historical perspective.

Co-hosted by the Konikoff Center for Learning of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, Rabbi Spiro will deliver his renowned lecture, World Perfect, at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus. This presentation explores 4,000 years of history through the lens of Jewish impact on the world. Rabbi Spiro’s engaging talk will uncover the mission of the Jewish people as a “Light to the nations” and promises to offer new insights into the significance of Judaism throughout history.

The weekend also features three sessions at B’nai Israel Congregation: Friday night Oneg with Back to the Future, Shabbat afternoon with The Jewish Conception of the Messiah, and Shalosh Seudos after Mincha with Why the Jews?

To register for the Saturday night program, visit JewishVA.org/Spiro. For more information about the entire weekend, contact B’nai Israel Congregation at office@bnaiisrael.org.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

What is Modern Jewish Art? Who is Ori Z. Soltes?

Sunday, Dec. 15, 2 pm, Chrysler Museum,

$18

Dr. Allan Zeno

Ori Z. Soltes, PhD, former director and chief curator of the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum, will be the first presenter for The Jewish Museum and Cultural Center’s Tidewater Jewish Visual Arts Advisory Board. The advisory board is comprised of members from United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, the Chrysler Museum, representatives from local universities, and the community at-large.

One of five children of the late Rabbi Avraham Soltes and Sara Rudavsky Soltes, Oriz Soltes is married, has two sons, and is a professor in Georgetown University’s Jewish Civilization department. He teaches theology, art history, philosophy, and political history, has taught across diverse disciplines, and is a prolific writer, with more than 32 books and

several hundred articles.

At the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum, Soltes created more than 80 exhibitions focusing on aspects of history, ethnography, and contemporary Jewish art. He has also curated diverse modern and historical art exhibitions at other sites, nationally and internationally. As director of the museum, he co-founded the Holocaust Art Restitution Project and has spent more than 20 years researching and consulting on the issue of Nazi-plundered art.

In his book, Fixing The World, Soltes includes artists who depict Jewish themes and symbols as well as individual biographies of painters, stylistic analysis, and thematic interpretations. The concept of Tikkun Olam –repairing or fixing the world – is a common thread among most of these artworks.

At the presentation, Soltes will discuss the work of 20th-century Jewish artists to explore various themes including immigration, urban life and politics, the Holocaust, and the new views of Judaism in recent years by feminist painters and Soviet emigrée artists.

Soltes will also share and discuss various artists who represent an interest in the social, as well as the aesthetic, aspect of their work. Artworks of despair and repair are balanced by paintings of celebration and joyous experiments in how to convey Jewishness and Judaism on canvas into the 21st century. They are concise, elegant, and sophisticated.

Tickets are $18 and can be purchased from Hunter Thomas at www.JewishVA.org/JewishArt. Tickets will also be available at the door and at half price for students with ID. The lecture will be followed by a reception.

A wide range of Jewish visual arts programming is planned by the newly formed group. To participate in implementing this and future TJVA programs, contact Rick Rivin at rickrivin@gmail.com or Myrna Teck at Teck.jarted@gmail.com.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING

Lenore Skenazy, Let Grow founder, slated to speak in Tidewater

Thursday, November 21, 6:30 pm

Sandler Family

Campus

Ally St. Pierre

Strelitz International Academy, in partnership with the Simon Family JCC, will present Lenore Skenazy, founder of the Let Grow movement and author of Free-Range Kids, for an engaging event at the Simon Family JCC. Skenazy, who has been a leading voice in promoting independence for children, will share insights from her groundbreaking book and discuss how schools, parents, and communities can empower young learners to develop resilience, confidence, and autonomy.

Skenazy gained notoriety after writing about her decision to let her nine-year-old son navigate New York City’s subway system alone. This bold parenting choice earned her the title of “America’s Worst Mom” from some critics, but also sparked a national conversation

about how much freedom and responsibility children should be given. Out of this debate grew the Free-Range Kids movement, which advocates for giving kids more independence to explore the world at their own pace, without unnecessary restrictions or fear.

As the founder of Let Grow, Skenazy leads efforts to promote childhood independence, with a focus on shifting how schools and parents think about safety and growth. The Let Grow movement encourages initiatives such as ‘Let Grow Projects’ in schools, where children take on challenges independently, helping them build problem-solving skills, responsibility, and self-confidence.

During her talk, Skenazy will delve into how these ideas can be integrated into both home and educational settings such as Strelitz International Academy. SIA is particularly excited to have her speak, as the school recently partnered with the Let Grow movement in its efforts to foster a culture of independence among the Primary Years (PY) students.

All community members, parents, and educators are invited to attend this event. It promises to be a thoughtprovoking discussion, filled with practical advice and a new perspective on raising confident, capable kids.

Ally St. Pierre is the admissions and marketing manager for Strelitz International Academy.

First gathering of Middle Schoolers of the school year Tuesday, October 29 6:00 - 7:15 pm Simon Family

Dave Flagler

Calling all 6th-8th Graders for the 3rd annual Middle School Kick Off.

At this gathering, connect with new and old friends, enjoy a pizza dinner, share ideas, plan future get-togethers, and have fun. This event will be a chance to get to know Tidewater’s new Shinshinim, Danielle Hartman and Emily Patyuk, and enjoy lighthearted midweek fam vibing without FOMO.

Facts: This event is free, slaps no cap, but advance registration is required by Monday, October 28.

For more information, contact Dave Flagler at dflagler@ujft.org or 757-3182.

Ava and Mara G. of fourth and third grade, baked cookies on their own for their first independent Let Grow project.

Fourth grade student Quinn M. paints a room all by herself as part of the September Let Grow project.

CALENDAR

OCTOBER 28 – DECEMBER 4

Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival. Featured author events allow the community to engage with bestselling and up-and-coming writers. Information and registration: JewishVA.org/BookFest or contact Hunter Thomas at HThomas@UJFT.org or 757-965-6137.

OCTOBER 28, MONDAY

Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival presents Rachel Beanland, author of The House is on Fire. Based on a true story, The House Is on Fire reveals how tragedy can offer rare chances for redemption. 7:30 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Free. Information and registration: JewishVA.org/Beanland.

OCTOBER 30 – DECEMBER 11, WEDNESDAYS

Mitzvot Matter. During this 6-week course, offered by the Konikoff Center for Learning and taught by Amy Lefcoe, students will focus on the opportunity and power of mitzvot. 11:30 am. Sandler Family Campus. $36 JCC members, $45 non-members. Scholarships available. Information and registration: JewishVA.org/KCL or contact Sierra Lautman at slautman@ujft.org or 757-965-6107.

NOVEMBER 1, FRIDAY

The Great Jewish Bookshelf. The Konikoff Center for Learning is offering a new subscription program for adults to get curated Jewish books delivered every two months. Information: JewishVA.org/GreatJewishBookshelf or contact Sierra Lautman at SLautman@UJFT.org.

NOVEMBER 7, THURSDAY

Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival presents Elizabeth White and Joanna Sliwa, authors of The Counterfeit Countess. 12 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Tickets include lunch: $10 JCC members, $14 non-members. Information and registration (required by October 30): visit JewishVA.org/White. See page 26.

NOVEMBER 3, SUNDAY

Mizrahi Culture Through Dance & Music. Co-hosted by PJ Library in Tidewater and the Konikoff Center for Learning, Jackie Dratch from the Mizrahi Dance Archive will lead a vibrant exploration of the diverse cultures of Mizrahi Jews through music and dance to celebrate Mizrahi Heritage Month. No prior dance experience is required. 1 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Free. Information or registration: JewishVA.org/Mizrahi or contact Jackie Dratch at JDratch@UJFT.org. See page 30.

Brith Sholom board and general meetings followed by brunch and entertainment by Door Way Singers. Board meeting 10 am, general meeting 11 am. Sandler Family Campus. $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Information and registration by noon on October 29: email brith.sholom1@gmail.com.

NOVEMBER 10, THURSDAY

RoundTable Conversation. United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC invite curious members to gather to discuss timely topics. 1 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Free. Information and registration: www.Jewishva.org/RoundTable or contact Mia Klein at MKlein@UJFT.org.

NOVEMBER 11, MONDAY

Camp JCC School Days Out. Join Camp JCC when school is not in session for fun crafts, sports, games, gaga, and free swim with friends. 9 am - 4 pm. Extended care option 8 am – 6 pm. Single days, 5 Day Bundles, and 10 Day Bundles available. Future dates: Dec 23- Jan 3 (excluding Dec. 25 and Jan 1). Information: visit www.jcc.jewishva.org/school-days-out.

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OBITUARIES

Ethel-Raye

Greenspan

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - We bid farewell to Ethel-Raye Greenspan of Norfolk, Virginia, whose journey of life gracefully concluded on October 16, at the age of 87.

Ethel-Raye touched countless lives with warmth and kindness, leaving behind cherished memories that will forever echo in hearts.

She was predeceased by her father, David Nesson, and mother, Helen Nesson. She is survived by her children, Jeffrey Greenspan (Cindy), Amy-Ann Mayberg (Jeremy) and John-Jay Greenspan; her grandchildren, David Greenspan (Laura), Jamie Greenspan, Bradley Santamour (Amanda), Maxwell McCutcheon, Luz Mayberg (Fernanda) and Rafael Forbush (Gemma); her great grandchildren, Avery, Logan, Kenton, Madalynn, Nolan, Mayim and Gabriel; and her siblings, Eddie Nesson (JoAnn) and Nancy Ghertner.

A funeral took place in Norfolk. H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts.

Holly Silver Margason

NORFOLK - Holly Silver Margason passed away peacefully on Oct. 11, surrounded by her family while watching The Wizard of Oz, one of her favorite movies. Fittingly, she passed during the moment where Dorothy crosses over from the black and white world into the magical, technicolor land of Oz.

Born in Norfolk, Va., to Philip and Goldie Silver, Holly was a second-generation graduate of Maury High School. She lived in the same house in the Roland Park neighborhood from her childhood.

After gaining “two amazing kids” from her previous marriage to Thomas Ingram, she met Andrew Margason while they were both working at Professional Heating and Cooling. When they first started dating, Holly and Andrew would regularly go dancing on Tuesday nights at the Heartbreak Cafe in Virginia Beach. They were married June 1, 1997.

Though Holly worked as an office manager for several companies over the years, she always said the only job she ever really wanted was to be a mother and a grandmother—and she was wonderful at both. She was incredibly imaginative with kids, constantly playing pretend and singing made-up lullabies that her family all still sings today. When she retired in 2019, she

happily took on the role of watching her first grandchild during the week.

Holly was known for being supremely selfless, prioritizing everyone around her. She would be in communication with the people she loved almost daily and was regularly on Facebook giving updates. She loved to commemorate every moment, constantly taking pictures and videos.

She loved decorating for Halloween, and despite being Jewish, had a soft spot for Christmas. She would start listening to holiday music as soon as the radio stations started playing it—reasoning that since the majority of songs were written by Jewish composers, it was okay.

One of her favorite places in the world was the family cabin, located near the museum and childhood home of Earl Hammner on Walton’s Mountain—and Holly enjoyed being part of the Waltons fan club. She was obsessed with all things vintage, especially mid-century modern style, and embodied I Love Lucy humor.

She was known for her comically loud gasps whenever she was slightly startled, making her family think there was a huge emergency whenever she dropped a pen. She was always chatting, humming, and whistling—something she passed along to her grandson, who constantly whistles now, too.

She had a relentlessly positive attitude. For many years she had a license plate that translated to “Won’t Give Up.” She made a difference in her community as a member of Temple Israel, where her parents were founding members, and as an officer in the Roland Park Civic League for over 15 years.

Her loved ones will miss her cheerfulness, her kindness, her deep and abiding love, and the colorful light that she shined into the world around her. She is survived by her beloved husband, Andrew Margason; her son, Troy, and his wife, Lindsay, and grandsons Schaefer and Theodore; her son, Eric Ingram, and his wife, Andrea Jensen; and her stepdaughter, Nicole Montgomery, and her husband, Justin, and family. She is also survived by her brother, Brian Silver, and by her sister, Fran Hoyt (Dave).

Services were held at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Tree of Life section, in Norfolk, Va. Donations in her memory can be sent to either CHKD, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts.

OBITUARIES

Lily Ebert, Holocaust survivor who became a TikTok sensation

Jackie Hajdenberg (JTA) — Lily Ebert, the Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor who educated millions on TikTok and cultivated a late-in-life friendship with King Charles III, died Wednesday, Oct. 9 at her home in London. She was 100.

Ebert’s death was announced by her great-grandson Dov Forman, who helped make her into a social media phenomenon in her final years.

“In the face of unimaginable loss, Safta made a promise to herself,” Forman shared in a letter on behalf of the family, using the Hebrew word for grandmother. “If she survived that hell on earth, she would tell her story-not with anger, but with strength, dignity, and the determination to honor those who did not. Never has a promise been so profoundly fulfilled as hers.”

Ebert was 20 when she was deported to Auschwitz in 1944, where she was separated from her mother Nina, her younger sister Berta, and her younger brother Bela, who were all sent to the gas chambers. Lily and her two other sisters were transferred to a munitions factory in Leipzig and liberated in 1945. After the war, they headed to Switzerland and then to Israel shortly before independence.

Lily was reunited with her older brother, also a Holocaust survivor, in 1953, and eventually made a life in Britain, moving there in 1967. She gave testimony at museums and universities and co-wrote a book about her experience with Forman, one of 38 great-grandchildren among her descendants.

In addition to the great-grandchildren, Ebert is predeceased by one daughter and survived by a daughter, a son, 10 grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

One of those great-grandchildren is Forman, with whom she co-created a TikTok account to educate social media users on the Holocaust and the prevalence of antisemitism. Forman was 16 at the time they created the account in 2021; it now has 2 million followers.

Over the years, the account featured Ebert showing off Jewish foods including

challah and rugelach, celebrating various Jewish holidays and, crucially, telling and retelling her Holocaust story, often in the form of trends popular on the platform.

The account also documented as Ebert grew progressively weak, including over the course of several hospitalizations. After each, Forman would triumphantly report her return to health.

On her 100th birthday last Dec. 29, the account quoted Ebert as saying, “I never thought I would survive Auschwitz. Now I celebrate 100 surrounded by my large and loving family. The Nazis did not win!”

Ebert’s followers included members of the British royalty. Just after her 99th birthday in late 2022, she was honored by King Charles III as a Member of the British Empire for her work in Holocaust education. The following year, when she turned 100, the king sent flowers for her birthday.

“It was with the greatest sadness that I heard this morning the news of Lily Ebert’s death,” the king, who wrote the foreword to her book, shared in a statement. “As a survivor of the unmentionable horrors of the Holocaust, I am so proud that she later found a home in Britain where she continued to tell the world of the horrendous atrocities she had witnessed, as a permanent reminder for our generation — and, indeed, for future generations — of the depths of depravity and evil to which humankind can fall, when reason, compassion and truth are abandoned.”

He added, “Alongside other Holocaust survivors she became an integral part of the fabric of our nation; her extraordinary resilience and courage an example to us all, which will never be forgotten.”

As Ebert’s presence on TikTok with Forman increased, the pair also faced antisemitism online. (The app’s critics say it is rife with unchecked antisemitism.)

In May 2021, Ebert posted a message wishing her followers a “Shabbat shalom,” to which many users responded with antisemitic spam.

Acknowledgements of her death resulted in critical comments, too. A condolence note posted to Twitter by British

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the moderate Labour leader who worked to rid his party of antisemitism following a scandal, was inundated with replies accusing the prime minister — who is married to a Jewish woman — of holding a double standard given his administration’s support for Israel in its war against Hamas.

“You are complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza. There will be survivors too,” one commenter wrote. “I hope they haunt you.”

It was the kind of vitriolic discord that Forman and Ebert advocated against in their social media posts.

“Over the years, Safta’s story touched hundreds of millions worldwide, reminding us of the resilience of the human spirit and the dangers of unchecked hatred,” the family’s statement said. “She taught us the power of tolerance and faith, the importance of speaking out, and the need to stand against prejudice.”

Another commenter excoriated Starmer from an opposing perspective. “Yet you allow people who call for the death of Jews to have hate marches every weekend,” the commenter wrote, ostensibly referring to pro-Palestinian marches that take place in England. “She would have been disgusted with you.”

Chris Sisler, Vice President, Member of Ohef Sholom Temple, Board member of the Berger-Goldrich Home at Beth Sholom Village, James E. Altmeyer, Jr., President, James E. Altmeyer, Sr., Owner

FIRST PERSON

A family odyssey

Cantor Jennifer Bern-Vogel

For almost 10 days in November, my family and I will be immersed in German-Jewish culture in the city of my mother’s birth, Bielefeld, Germany, seeing old friends and cousins who will be making their way from Denmark.

This trip is the culmination of all the trips that I’ve made to Europe over the past 17 months – plus the seven years since my mother’s passing. During these trips and over this time, discussions have taken place with family members in the U.S. and London, U.S. museums, curators, and historians to make the decision as to where the Synagogue Key, the only remaining relic of my mother’s synagogue destroyed on Kristallnacht in 1938 (The Night of Broken Glass) should be displayed.

The History Museum in Bielefeld will interview my brother and me for a video which will include recorded excerpts of my mother speaking about her experiences. This has become a collaboration between the current Community Synagogue in Bielefeld and the History Museum, where the key will be registered in perpetuity.

On Friday, November 8, I will co-lead Shabbat services with Cantor Yuval Paul Adam of the Bielefeld Synagogue. We will conclude with the poem My Garden, written by my grandfather in April 1939, just before the family left Germany. A composer (and good friend)

in Germany has put the poem to music. At 5:30 pm on Saturday, November 9, people will convene at the spot where the old Synagogue was before its destruction and then proceed to the City Hall for a formal presentation, at which time I will present the key.

This is the English translation of what I will deliver in German, along with the key:

In the late afternoon of November 9, 1938, my then, 15-year-old mother, Marianne Katzenstein, was practicing the organ in her synagogue – music was her greatest passion. I like to imagine that she would have happily spent many more hours in that organ loft if she hadn’t been called home to dinner. Dutifully, she locked the door behind her, put the key in her pocket and made her way home.

On the morning of November 10, my mother was shaken out of her sleep with the cries of their maid, “Marianne, Marianne, the synagogue is burning, the synagogue is burning!”

Built and commissioned in 1905 by Marianne’s uncle, Moritz Katzenstein, who was also the president of the Bielefeld Jewish community, all that was left of the beautiful synagogue were flames and ash. Kristallnacht

or “Night of Broken Glass” as it has been referred to in Germany for many years, now more properly called for what it truly was – a pogrom – changed the lives of German Jews and their descendants forever. Germany was no longer their homeland. And what about that key? My mother and her sister were able to leave Germany via the Kindertransport to London, and that key, still in my mother’s pocket, set out on a journey that lasted nearly 90 years from England – briefly to Israel, and then America. As children, my brother and I were in awe of the big key in its special little velvet pouch. We grew to understand that it was connected to stories of a lost world in time; stories that were tainted with a mixture of sadness and

Marianne Bern.

Marianne Bern as a young girl in Germany.

bridged the genera)ons and forced us to connect with the past.

Years before she died, through a personal and professional connec)on, my mother had planned to donate the key to the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. But for many reasons among them, the curator passed and then she did too) it did not happen in her life)me and we were lec to figure out where it should eventually have its final res)ng place. It was, acer all, the bridge to my mother’s past and her beloved birthplace where she spent the first 15 idyllic years and playing in their beau)ful garden. It was finally clear to us that it needed to go home. Just as, at one )me, it opened the door to the synagogue, may it now symbolically open new doors; it was an important bridge of memory to the past, ridge of freedom to all future genera)ons לדור ודור

longing. We knew the key was an important and precious piece of history that bridged the generations and forced us to connect with the past.

where she spent the first 15 idyllic years of her life enjoying school, friends, family, and playing in their beautiful garden. It was finally clear to us that it needed to go home. Just as, at one time, it opened the door to the synagogue, may it now symbolically open new doors; it was an important bridge of memory to the past, may it be a bridge of freedom to all future generations. ל

My Garden Garden, my garden – the time has come –Your colorful hue just leaves me numb…We have to part, soon I’ll be far

And you’ll belong to a different ‘tsar’ He will deprive you, of all your array However your soul with me will stay, My playtime toy, my childhood joy, Known and familiar in every way.

On behalf of my en)re family who have traveled from America, England, and Denmark, we are honored to bring the key back to its original home to serve as a key of peace amongst peoples of all faiths and backgrounds to the new Community Synagogue of Bielefeld in and the Bielefeld Museum of History.

On behalf of my entire family who have traveled from America, England, and Denmark, we are honored to bring the key back to its original home to serve as a key of peace amongst peoples of all faiths and backgrounds – to the new Community Synagogue of Bielefeld and the Bielefeld Museum of History.

Cantor Jennifer Bern-Vogel has been the cantor for Congrega)on Emanu El in Redlands, Calif. Since 2009. She served as cantor of Ohef Sholom Temple in Norfolk 1996 - 2009.

Years before she died, through a personal and

Cantor Jennifer Bern-Vogel has been the cantor for

Where the flowers softly say to me We grew up together, you and we –My children’s joy when eventually A new life blossomed up for me.

Marianne A. Bern shared the story of the key and the synagogue’s fire at Ohef Sholom Temple on Kristallnacht in 2006.

My Garden Garden, my garden – the )me has come –Your colorful hue just leaves me numb…We have to part, soon I’ll be farAnd you’ll belong to a different ‘tsar’ He will deprive you, of all your array However your soul with me will stay, My play)me toy, my childhood joy, Known and familiar in every way.

Jewish on Campus

Where the flowers socly say to me We grew up together, you and we –My children’s joy when eventually A new life blossomed up for me.

The end is in sight – the )me has gone by No one can love you more than I The cherries are blossoming and I must flee The ripened fruit I’ll never see…

PM • Online

Sources editor Claire Sufrin will join Hillel professionals from throughout Virginia to discuss the current climate on college campuses by discussing the summer 2024 issue of the journal, Jewish on Campus. Sources

Free to attend and open to the

Marianne Bern (center) with her family: Dan, Jennifer, and Julian in Iowa, 1976.

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